The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the true number of cases is likely to be 10 times higher than the reported figure.

The US has recorded 2.4m confirmed infections and 122,370 deaths. The University of Washington predicts 180,000 US deaths by October - or 146,000 if 95% of Americans wear masks.

"Our best estimate right now is that for every case that was reported, there actually were 10 other infections," CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield told reporters.

This was because testing was restricted to people with symptoms and asymptomatic carriers were not tested, he said. "We probably recognized about 10% of the outbreak by the methods that we use to diagnosis between the March, April and May," he said.

Dr Redfield said that between 5% and 8% of the population had been exposed to the virus and urged Americans to keep social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands.

What is happening in Texas?

The state, which has been at the forefront of moves to end lockdown measures, has seen thousands of new cases, prompting Republican Governor Greg Abbott to call a temporary halt to its reopening.

• Texas confirmed a record 5,996 new cases on Thursday
• There were also 47 new deaths, the highest daily toll for a month
• The state has also seen record number of people requiring hospital treatment for 13 days in a row
• Elective surgery has been suspended in the Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio areas to free up beds
• More than 10% of the tests carried out over the past week have come back positive

All but 12 of the state's 254 counties have reported cases

Other states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wyoming, have all recorded record daily increases in the number of confirmed cases this week.

Arizona set a single-day record for new coronavirus cases on Sunday at 3,858 and has abruptly reversed course on reopening its economy as coronavirus cases spike there and nationwide.

Florida and Texas have also performed U-turns on relaxing restrictions as the whole US Sun Belt region becomes a new virus epicentre.

At least 16 US states have paused or rolled back reopenings as their infection caseloads balloon.

Arizona's stay-at-home orders were lifted in mid-May in line with criteria set by the White House, allowing businesses to reopen.