Global coronavirus cases top 40 million as pandemic's pace 'continues to pick up'

Healthcare workers from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment check in with people waiting to be tested for COVID-19 at the state's first drive-up testing center on March 1
(Image credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

The number of COVID-19 cases confirmed globally has passed 40 million, according to Johns Hopkins University's latest numbers.

This grim milestone comes as Europe has been experiencing a surge in coronavirus infections and last week reached a weekly record of almost 700,000 new cases, The Associated Press reports. The AP writes that "the global increase in recent weeks has been driven by a surge in Europe." In the United States, meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic last week passed eight million.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.