Photo taken on March 20, 2020 shows a Mexican restaurant closed due to COVID-19 epidemic in New Orleans, Louisiana, the United States. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 20,000 as of 1:30 p.m. local time on Saturday (1730 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Photo by Lan Wei/Xinhua)

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 20,000 as of 1:30 p.m. local time on Saturday (1730 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The fresh figure reached 22,043, as the states of New York, Washington and California topped the chart with 10,356, 1,524 and 1,267 cases, respectively, the CSSE said.

A total of 278 fatalities have been tallied across the country, 83 of which occurred in Washington state, followed by 56 in New York and 24 in California. Meanwhile, 147 patients have recovered, according to the CSSE.

Photo taken on March 20, 2020 shows a library closed due to COVID-19 epidemic in New Orleans, Louisiana, the United States. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 20,000 as of 1:30 p.m. local time on Saturday (1730 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Photo by Lan Wei/Xinhua)

 

Photo taken on March 20, 2020 shows a sign saying "Open for take out" at a restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana, the United States. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 20,000 as of 1:30 p.m. local time on Saturday (1730 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Photo by Lan Wei/Xinhua)

 

People wait inside cars to be tested at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Dallas, Texas, the United States, March 21, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 20,000 as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday (1730 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)

 

Medical workers work at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Dallas, Texas, the United States, March 21, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 20,000 as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday (1730 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)