Health experts fear Brazil's Covid-19 catastrophe could get even worse in the coming months, while a parliamentary inquiry into the government's response to the pandemic is expected to ratchet up political pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro.

South America's largest country, previously renowned for demonstrating leadership during health crises, has become an international pariah amid the coronavirus pandemic. Brazil has recorded the highest coronavirus-related death toll in the world outside the U.S., is lagging in terms of vaccinations and is still without an effective and coordinated public health response to the outbreak.

An official inquiry, approved by Brazil's Supreme Court, was opened late last month to investigate the government's handling of the pandemic that has killed more than 430,000 people. The inquiry could pave the way to Bolsonaro's impeachment, though analysts say political opponents of the right-wing leader may prefer to contest the president at elections in October 2022.