Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Brazil recorded more than 26,417 daily new infections of the novel coronavirus, the health ministry announced on Thursday - the highest tally since the outbreak began.

The total number of infections rose to 438,238, the second-highest tally globally, behind the United States.

A total of least 26,754 people have died in connection with the virus, the sixth-highest death toll globally, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

The number of undetected cases and deaths is likely to be much higher due to a lack of testing and a lag in processing laboratory results.

Brazil's most populous state of Sao Paulo, with more than 40 million inhabitants, registered more than 6,382 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, setting a disturbing new record.

Governor Joao Doria had previously extended measures restricting daily life, while also announcing a gradual opening of the economy.