New US coronavirus cases hit 45,242 for biggest one-day increase of pandemic

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.