As many as 259,848 new COVID-19 cases were reported to the World Health Organization in 24 hours, according to a WHO report published Saturday. 

This is the first time the number of new daily infections reported to the WHO within a 24-hour period has surpassed a quarter of a million. The previous record was set on Friday: 237,743 new coronavirus cases. 

Saturday's report noted the global death toll from coronavirus rose by 7,360 in 24 hours, the largest daily increase since May 10, bringing the total number of deaths worldwide to 593,087. 

The biggest increases are in the U.S., Brazil, India and South Africa, according to the latest data from John Hopkins University's interactive map.

The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus passed 14 million on Saturday, with over 600,000 recorded deaths, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.

What is happening in the U.S.?

Deaths from the novel coronavirus in the U.S. topped 140,000 on Saturday as cases continued to rise in 42 of 50 states over the past two weeks. Since late June, the U.S. has seen a resurgence in new cases. Six weeks later, deaths have also begun rising, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

America is losing about 5,000 people to the virus every week. By contrast, neighboring Canada has reported total deaths of 8,800 since the pandemic started.

In just one week, the U.S. has recorded about as many deaths as the number of lives Sweden has lost since the pandemic began earlier this year: 5,600.

In the hardest-hit U.S. counties, officials are running out of places to store bodies as their morgues fill up.

Arizona's Maricopa County, home to the state's largest city, Phoenix, is bringing in 14 coolers to hold up to 280 bodies and more than double morgue capacity ahead of an expected surge in coronavirus fatalities, officials said on Thursday.

In Texas, the city of San Antonio and Bexar County have acquired five refrigerated trailers to store up to 180 bodies.

(With input from agencies)