Surgeon general says US has reached a 'critical inflection point' as coronavirus spreads

close

Video

Surgeon general says US has reached 'turning point' on coronavirus testing

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams joins 'Fox & Friends' to discuss the administration's 'aggressive' approach to social distancing recommendations and the increase in testing.

Following President Trump’s emergency declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said that the United States has made a “turning point” in testing people for the virus.

“We are at a critical inflection point in our country,” Adams told “Fox & Friends.”

Adams said that the United States’ mortality rate numbers are similar to that of Italy “two weeks ago.”

“We have a choice to make as a nation: Do we want to go the direction of South Korea and really be aggressive and lower our mortality rates, or do we want to go the direction of Italy?”

ITALY'S CORONAVIRUS CASES SEE LARGEST DAILY JUMP; DEATH TOLL TOPS 1,800

The number of coronavirus cases in Italy, described as the pandemic's epicenter in Europe, surged higher on Sunday, recording over 3,500 cases in its largest single-day increase of infections to date.

Italy’s Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli announced the 3,590 new COVID-19 cases topped the previous day’s increase by nearly 100. The total number of cases jumped to over 24,700.

The number of deaths increased Sunday by 368 to 1,809.

Video

Meanwhile, South Korea passed a law strengthening the punishment for those violating self-isolation, more than tripling the fine and adding the possibility of a year in prison.

Twenty-two South Korean soldiers and one American service member in South Korea have tested positive for the new coronavirus, which has infected about 1,770 people in the Asian country, the largest outbreak outside mainland China.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

Adams said that having Italy’s infection total could be avoided if people heed government officials' advice to socially distance themselves and follow “basic public health measures."

“There’s every hope that we can be South Korea if people actually listened, if people actually were socially distanced, if people do the basic public health measures that we have been talking about all along, such as washing your hands, such as covering your cough and cleaning surfaces," he said, forecasting six to eight weeks of precautionary measures being taken.

The virus has infected more than 156,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5,800. Nearly 74,000 people worldwide have recovered after being infected.

Fox News’ Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.