Coronavirus cases hit 10 million as outbreaks surge in the US, Brazil and India

The daily number of coronavirus cases continues to rise across the globe, with the World Health Organization on Sunday reporting the highest number of recorded cases in a 24-hour period. The increase saw the pandemic reach another grim milestone as the total number of confirmed cases crossed 10 million with 500,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 database. Over 5 million are listed as recovered.

In the US, regional surges in the South and West drove cases to a record weekly high, according to analysis by the Atlantic's COVID Tracking Project. The country accounts for more than a quarter of all cases and deaths. Daily deaths have continued to decline in the US even as cases reach new highs, a phenomenon not currently seen in other countries with surging cases.

"This is a very serious situation," US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said during an appearance Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. "People, as individuals, have to act responsibly. We need to social distance, we need to wear our face coverings if we're in settings where we can't social distance."

There is some suggestion that new cases are being found in younger age groups -- those at a lower risk of dying from COVID-19. "We've gotten reports from our governors that the majority of cases are aged 35 and under," Azar said. A lag between deaths and reporting could also see deaths rise in July.

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