The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the globe exceeded 40 million Monday morning, according to the latest data — although far more people are believed to have been infected.
Johns Hopkins University, which collates COVID-19 reports from around the world, has recorded 40,076,184 confirmed cases of the virus.
The actual worldwide number, however, is believed to be much higher as testing has been variable, many have been asymptomatic and some governments have concealed the actual number of cases.
Globally, more than 1.1 million confirmed virus deaths have been reported — although experts also believe that number is an undercount.
The US, India and Brazil are reporting by far the highest numbers of coronavirus cases: with 8.1 million, 7.5 million and 5.2 million respectively.
But the recent global increase is driven by a surge in Europe — which has seen more than 240,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
Enlarge ImageA young girl reacts to a nasal swab during a mass testing for COVID-19 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi.
A young girl reacts to a nasal swab during a mass testing for COVID-19 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi.AFP via Getty Images
Europe last week also reported a record weekly high of nearly 700,000 new cases, according to the World Health Organization — which said that the region was responsible for about a third of global cases.