US coronavirus death toll surpasses 16,000

WASHINGTON

The number of people who have died from the novel coronavirus in the U.S. surpassed the 16,000 mark Thursday, according to data by Johns Hopkins University.

The university's running tally counted 16,129 deaths and 452,582 cases as the U.S. struggles to curb the outbreak.

The U.S. now ranks second in the world with deaths from the virus after Italy reported 18,279, followed by Spain with 15,238.

Nearly 25,000 patients have recovered from the disease, according to data.

The state of New York continues to be the epicenter with more than 7,000 deaths, followed by New Jersey with 1,709.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams also warned that it would be a very hard week for the country.

"This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment and our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized, it's going to be happening all over the country," he told Fox News Sunday.

Overall, the virus has spread to 184 countries, infecting more than 1.5 million people since it first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. The global death toll is 94,500, while nearly 350,000 have recovered.