BREAKING: US Coronavirus Death Toll Rise To 628

Italy’s dramatic rise in coronavirus cases has sparked fear for what lies ahead for the United States as the World Health Organization warned the US could soon become the global epicenter of the pandemic.

The death toll in the United States increased to 628 on Tuesday while the number of infections rose to 50,075.

Italy has so far suffered the world’s deadliest outbreak of the pandemic with 6,820 deaths and 69,176 cases after abruptly overtaking China – where the outbreak began in late December. In China, 3,281 people have died and there are 81,591 confirmed cases.

The US, which is third in terms of fatal cases globally, is almost two weeks behind both Italy and China in terms of the outbreak.

Italy and the US are 12 days apart in terms of reporting its first coronavirus deaths – with Italy’s first death confirmed on February 20 and the US on March 3.