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According to the Johns Hopkins University, U.S. daily COVID-19 cases reached a record high on Thursday, with 88,521 cases being reported. That's 4,790 more cases than last Friday's record high of 83,731 cases.

Over the past week, the country has added a record-setting 536,131 cases. The sharp rise could push the total number of confirmed cases to surpass nine million.

"This is the hardest point in this pandemic right now -- the next two months," Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told CNBC on Thursday, "We can't give up our guard right now."

On Thursday, nine U.S. states have reported their highest number of daily new cases since the pandemic began. Forty-three states have seen an increase in cases compared to last week.

Health experts and government officials attributed the surge in COVID-19 new infections to the cooler weather, growing indoor private gatherings, and fatigue and anger over virus restrictions.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine projected that if states do not respond to the surge with re-imposing mandates, the situation could get worse. 

"The fall/winter surge should lead to a daily death toll that is approximately three times higher than now by mid-January. Hospital systems, particularly ICUs, are expected to be under extreme stress in December and January in 18 states."

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