It Took 13 Days for COVID-19 Cases to Go From 1M to 2M

Pandemic has killed almost 140K worldwide
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 16, 2020 7:45 AM CDT
World Coronavirus Infections Pass 2M
A woman wearing a face mask walks outside Mexico City's World Trade Center, Wednesday, April 15, 2020.   (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Five months elapsed between the first reports of an unknown virus in Wuhan and the number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide reaching 1 million. The second million took 13 days. The number of cases rose to more than 2 million Wednesday, with almost 140,000 deaths worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. Both figures are believed to be undercounts due to a lack of testing and other issues.

Almost a third of the cases are in the US, which has reported at least 639,000 cases and nearly 31,000 deaths, CNN reports. The grim milestone arrives as some countries, including Germany and Denmark, are preparing to ease lockdown restrictions, while others warn that the pandemic has yet to peak, the New York Times reports. (President Trump says 29 states are in "extremely good shape.")

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X