The World Health Organization says the United States is showing signs of becoming the new epicenter for the global covid-19 pandemic
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said about a third of new cases in the past day were in the US.
"It has a very large outbreak and an outbreak that is increasing in intensity," Harris said.
There have been more than 65,000 infections, and the death toll will soon likely surpass 1,000 .
The single day death toll topped 200 on Wednesday.
New York has more than 30,000 cases and this week the state of Alaska reported its first death.
The WHO says the acceleration is worrying.
The US death toll increased seven-fold in only a week when it reported 100 deaths on March 17.
Currently Italy remains the coronavirus hotspot, although the WHO says the infection rate is slowing.
"There is a glimmer of hope there. We’ve seen in the last two days fewer new cases and deaths in Italy but it’s very, very early days yet," Harris said.
