US overtakes China in confirmed coronavirus cases

Number surpasses 85,000 making it the new epicenter

A New York City Police officer (NYPD) wears protective gear, while monitoring people waiting in line to be tested for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outside Elmhurst Hospital Center in the Queens borough of New York City. © Reuters

MARRIAN ZHOU, YIFAN YU and ALEX FANG, Nikkei staff writers

March 27, 2020 06:39 JST

Updated on March 27, 2020 12:28 JST

NEW YORK/PALO ALTO, U.S. -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has surpassed that of China, making America set to become the next epicenter of the pandemic.