There is barely a person in Brazil today who hasn't lost a loved one to Covid-19, say local scientists, as the country reached the grim milestone of half a million deaths.

The South American nation, which holds half the continent's population, is being decimated by the virus. On June 18 alone Brazil accounted for nearly one-third of all Covid-19 deaths worldwide, according to Our World in Data -- a figure that experts warn is quickly rising as the virus spreads unchecked throughout the country.

The 500,000 death toll is twice as high as it was six months ago, a sign that the mortality rate is accelerating, say experts.

"In June of last year, we reached 50,000 deaths for Covid-19. In just one year we have multiplied this number 10 times. It's very scary," says Brazilian neurosc