US coronavirus cases surpass 5,000, up fivefold from a week ago

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 5,000 in the United States on Tuesday, increasing fivefold over seven days as states ramp up testing and the new flu-like coronavirus sweeps across the country.

Across the country, the virus has infected more than 5,145 and killed at least 91 people as of noon Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Globally, the virus has infected more than 189,386 people and killed at least 7,504, according to Hopkins. The number of cases changes by the minute as test results roll in and countries and U.S. states expand their testing capacity.

U.S. officials confirmed the virus had infected more than 1,000 people in the U.S. a week ago. Due to restraints on U.S. testing capacity and nationwide screening for the virus, state and local officials have acknowledged that the true number of cases in the country is likely much higher.

New York's "numbers are spiking because our testing capacity is going up," Cuomo said last week.

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