Brazilians protest Bolsonaro's role in half a million COVID-19 deaths

A person holds a cross reading "500.000 deaths" as people participate in a protest against Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and his handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Cuiaba, Brazil, June 19, 2021. REUTERS/Mariana Greif

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Thousands took to the streets across Brazil on Saturday to protest against President Jair Bolsonaro's pandemic response, blasting the leader for not acquiring vaccines fast enough and for questioning the need for mask-wearing.

Brazil surpassed 500,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, according to the Health Ministry, the world's highest death toll after the United States.[nL2N2O10FX]