Per the <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">John Hopkins University</a> records, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of 15,328 lives, as of Monday, March 23. In addition, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus has now reached 350,536 people. Today, the US became the third worst-hit nation in the world, with 35,345 confirmed cases, and a death toll of 473. The US now sits behind Italy, which stands at 59,138 confirmed cases and a death toll of 5,476, and China, which has recorded a total of 81,496 confirmed cases, resulting in the loss of 3,274 lives. (All figures accurate as of this writing.) In a glimmer of hope, JHU reports that over 100,000 people of that global tally have recovered from COVID-19. <img class="size-large wp-image-12588364" src="https://img.vt.co/2020/03/cd0580e2-mapfi1-1024x534.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="534" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: John Hopkins University]] On Friday, WHO officials were once again forced to warn people about dismissing the coronavirus as just a bad outbreak of the flu, stressing how the global pandemic has overwhelmed health systems around the world in just a matter of weeks. Speaking at a press briefing from the organization’s Geneva headquarters, executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-who-says-health-systems-collapsing-this-isnt-just-a-bad-flu-season.html">Mike Ryan said</a>: "Take one look at what’s happening in some health systems around the world. Look at the intensive care units completely overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses utterly exhausted. This is not normal. This isn’t just a bad flu season." However, despite the growing numbers, many members of the public in the US and UK are still refusing to practice safe <a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200322-sitrep-62-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=f7764c46_2">social distancing and self-isolation</a>. <a href="http://vt.co/news/world/why-fighting-the-coronavirus-depends-on-everyone-practicing-social-distancing/">READ: Why fighting the coronavirus depends on everyone practicing social distancing</a> Englewood Beach in Charlotte County Florida was crowded with sun-lovers on Saturday, <img class=" wp-image-12588368" src="https://img.vt.co/2020/03/7e5af911-pa-52362877.jpg" alt="" width="646" height="420" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]] And in London - the worst-hit area of the UK - Londoners flocked to Richmond Park in order to enjoy a Mother's Day stroll in the sunshine. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Urban_Pictures/status/1241700761140187137]] Now, the US Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, has spoken out about the seriousness of social distancing and self-isolation. Earlier today, Adams appeared on the TODAY show to provide a warning to the US public that the COVID-19 crisis will get worse over the next seven days. During his on Monday morning, Adams said: "I want America to understand this week, it's going to get bad." Check out Adams' interview in the clip below: [[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/kr28SjTs-dkXnENEs.mp4||kr28SjTs]] He said: "Right now, there are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously. "Everyone needs to act as if they have the virus right now. So, test or no test. We need you to understand you could be spreading it to someone else. Or you could be getting it from someone else, stay at home." The WHO has also reported a rise in criminals disguising themselves as WHO officials in order to steal money or sensitive information from members of the public. As per the most recent WHO situation report, they are "[urging] individuals to stay alert and to verify the authenticity of the request. Information on protecting yourselves against scams as well as reporting the scam to WHO can be found <a href="https://www.who.int/about/communications/cyber-security">HERE</a>." We are urging all of our readers to adhere to the advice from their respective governments and medical bodies, and practice social distancing and self-isolation where required. Together, we will beat this...

Coronavirus: Global death toll surpasses 15,000

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