WASHINGTON — Global cases of the coronavirus has surpassed 1.5 million on Thursday, less than a week after surpassing the 1 million mark with New York, Britain and Belgium reporting their deadliest days so far.

According to the data released by the Johns Hopkins study in the US, 1,500,830 people have been infected with the virus so far, 87,705 people who have died and 317,855 individuals who have fully recovered.

The US tops the list with the highest number of infections at more than 423,000, but Italy reports highest death toll with 17,669 fatalities.

Despite the grim US death toll for Tuesday — 1,858 in total, including 806 in New York City — White House taskforce officials said on Wednesday night there were signs isolation measures were working and the death toll may not be as high as the 100,000 to 240,000 minimum feared.

Dr Deborah Birx, the US virus response coordinator, said: “We carefully looked at Italy and Spain and we are doing much better in many cases than several other countries and we’re trying to understand that. We believe that our healthcare delivery system in the United States is quite extraordinary.”

Official UK figures showed 938 more people had died in hospitals, bringing the total to 7,097, although the true death toll is likely to be significantly higher.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization has urged the US and China to show “honest leadership” and stop bickering as the crisis will escalate if countries don’t start showing more solidarity.

Earlier on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the coronavirus as "one of the most dangerous challenges" facing the international community, which he said is "above all a human crisis with severe health and socio-economic consequences."

"Now is the time for unity, for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences," he said. — Agencies