The number of cases worldwide is expected to hit the grim milestone of 10 million next week, said the World Health Organization.
UN agency warned the virus was yet to peak in the American continents.
Many countries in the region have experienced 25-50 per cent increases in cases in the last week, it said.
In the United States, new COVID-19 cases have surged to the highest level in two months.
According to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the US on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus.
WHO also said that the organization is now supporting many countries in dealing with difficulties obtaining oxygen concentrators, devices that boost the flow of oxygen to support the breathing of COVID-19 sufferers.
