U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned that the country’s battle against the coronavirus is “going to get bad” this week, he told Today Show host Savannah Guthrie Monday.

"This week, it's going to get bad. … We really, really need everyone to stay at home." Watch @Surgeon_General's full interview with @savannahguthrie. pic.twitter.com/azmKJ6hfSY — TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 23, 2020

“This week, it’s going to get bad and we really need to come together as a nation. I heard the stories that you were just playing. Young people out on beaches.” Dr. Adams told Guthrie.

He continued, “We see here in D.C. that the district set up a cam for people to watch the cherry blossoms. You look on the cam, you see more people walking around than you see cherry blossoms. And this is how the spread is occurring.”

As the number of U.S. confirmed cases of the coronavirus surpasses 35,000 making it the third highest number globally, there is growing concern that the public isn’t taking the government’s warnings seriously, and that, the country’s doctor said, could lead to dire consequences for the country.

WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020

In order to stop the spread of the virus in 15 days, the American people need to practice social distancing, according to Dr. Adams. “We really, really need everyone to stay at home,” Dr. Adams said.