The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surpassed 10,000 on Friday morning.
In addition to the 10,038 deaths, approximately two-thirds of which occurred in China and Italy, there have been nearly a quarter of a million confirmed cases around the globe.
There have also been 86,035 people who have recovered from the COVID-19 virus, according to the latest reading of the Johns Hopkins University tracker. Approximately 80% of the cases were found in China, where the virus is believed to have originated late last year.
People most at risk are older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials in the United States have said the number of cases in the country is expected to increase “dramatically” in the next few days as the virus spreads and testing becomes more readily available. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN this week that “it’s possible” thousands or even millions of U.S. citizens could die during the coronavirus outbreak.
So far, there have been more than 14,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S., which have resulted in at least 187 deaths, according to CBS News, while more than 120 people have recovered.