US has deadliest 24 hours: WHO data shows that 2,909 people died from coronavirus as lockdown restrictions ease across America

The United States has recorded its deadliest 24 hours after more than 2,900 people died from coronavirus as America loosens its lockdown restrictions. 

Within the last two weeks, several states have started reopening their stores, restaurants, malls, museums and libraries despite the US reporting more than 1.1 million confirmed cases with at least 67,173 deaths. 

According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US recorded 2,909 deaths in a single day as of 4am on Friday. 

So far, that number is the highest daily COVID-19 death toll that the US has seen since the pandemic hit America. 

According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US recorded 2,909 deaths in a single day on Friday

According CNBC, the next highest US daily death toll occurred on April 23 when 2,471 deaths were reported.

The data released by the WHO differs by at least 600 confirmed coronavirus cases in comparison to data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The CDC, which doesn't report historical daily COVID-19 deaths, says 2,349 people died in the US on May 1. 

But the CDC did note that it doesn't 'know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths' in the US.

CDC spokeswoman, Kate Grusich, told CNBC that the agency’s data is 'validated through a confirmation process with jurisdictions'.

Federal guidelines call for the number of cases to fall for 14 straight days before relaxing lockdown measures, but Texas and several other US states have forged ahead with reopening regardless.

Texas began relaxing coronavirus lockdown measures on Friday despite reporting a single-day high in deaths, the largest and latest US state to ease restrictions without a clear drop in the number of confirmed virus cases.

Stores, restaurants, movie theaters, malls, museums and libraries were allowed to reopen in the Lone Star State but with limited occupancy - just 25 per cent of their capacity.

Public swimming pools, bars, gyms, beauty salons, massage parlors, bowling alleys, video game arcades and tattoo shops remain closed.

And Texas Governor Greg Abbott sounded a note of caution, tweeting that 'Texans should continue to practice social distancing' and follow health guidelines.

'Face coverings are not mandatory, but encouraged to protect the lives of individuals at high-risk,' Abbott said. 

President Donald Trump, with the election just six months away and the economy in a shambles, has sent mixed messages about the reopening of the country.

He has promoted the guidelines - while at the same time expressing support for protests in several states demanding a faster easing of stay-at-home orders.

Trump weighed in Friday on protests the previous day in Lansing, Michigan, where demonstrators, some of whom were armed, stormed the state legislature to demand the Democratic governor lift lockdown orders.

The president tweeted that Governor Gretchen Whitmer should 'give a little, and put out the fire'.

'These are very good people, but they are angry,' Trump said. 'They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.'

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany, speaking at her first press briefing on Friday, said Trump 'wants a safe reopening'.

'He encourages all states to follow the data-driven guidelines to reopening,' McEnany said. 'But ultimately, it's the decision of the states.'

Though experts have warned against reopening the economy too soon, thousands of Americans have taken to the streets to protest against the lockdown orders.    

Other states, that have seen protests include North Carolina, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee and Washington.  

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom reversed an order allowing some beaches to open after they were packed last weekend.

While Newsom was re-closing beaches, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that schools in New York state, the epicenter of the US outbreak, would stay closed for the rest of the academic year.

The number of cases has been on the decline in some of the hardest-hit states such as New York and New Jersey.

But the daily count of new cases nationwide has been holding steady at nearly 30,000.

'It looks like US-style lockdowns are enough to freeze transmission in place,' said Jeremy Konyndyk of the Center for Global Development.

'But not enough to drive it down. Which suggests that without further measures, we could remain on this plateau for quite a while,' said Konyndyk, a member of the World Health Organization's Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee.