New U.S. coronavirus cases hit 45,242 for biggest one-day increase of pandemic

FILE PHOTO: Handlebar bouncer, Mando Cuadros, sprays down a guest's hands with hand sanitiser on the first night that bars reopen after they were shut down to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Austin, Texas, U.S., May 22, 2020. REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona

LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) - The United States recorded 45,242 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the largest single-day increase of the pandemic, according to a Reuters tally, bringing the total number of Americans who have tested positive to at least 2.48 million.

The new record for positive COVID-19 tests comes as several states at the center of a new surge in infections took steps back from efforts to ease restrictions on businesses. COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.