Focusing on the number of cases is a mistake. There are huge differences among countries on strategies for testing. Some countries, such as Germany are testing also mild-symptomatic cases when these have been in contact with a confirmed person. Other countries, such as France and Japan only test cases that they then admit to the hospital. Mild symptoms are not a valid reason for testing. The acceleration we have seen in cases in the US these days reflects a catch up in testing, not merely in the progression of the epidemics there.