The U.S. daily death toll took an upturn Tuesday, hitting its highest total since the coronavirus crisis began, fueled by new methods to count the dead in New York City.

Tuesday's high death mark follows three days in which deaths across the country had been on the decline.

It's likely that the spike in deaths is due to new counting methods adopted by New York City, where health authorities on Tuesday began including people who probably had COVID-19, but died without ever being tested.

Johns Hopkins coronavirus dashboard reported 25,757 total U.S. deaths as of 9:10 p.m. ET, an increase of more than 2,300 from Monday. The previous highest daily death toll was 2,108, on Friday.

That figure eclipses heart disease, the nation's No. 1 killer with about 1,772 deaths per day, according to the CDC. Lung cancer kills 433 people each day in the U.S.

The change in the city’s accounting of deaths came after officials acknowledged that statistics based only on laboratory-confirmed tests were failing to account for many people dying at home before they reached a hospital or even sought treatment.

“Behind every death is a friend, a family member, a loved one. We are focused on ensuring that every New Yorker who died because of COVID-19 gets counted,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “While these data reflect the tragic impact that the virus has had on our city, they will also help us to determine the scale and scope of the epidemic and guide us in our decisions.”

New York City officials reported 3,778 “probable” deaths, where doctors were certain enough of the cause of death to list it on the death certificate, and 6,589 confirmed by a lab test. Combined, that would put the total fatalities in the city over 10,000.

Meanwhile, President Trump clarified comments from Monday regarding his authority to force states to open up their economies. He said each governor would make that decision for their state based on how well the outbreak was being managed.

The uncertainty surrounding the country's future has created challenges for college athletics programs. While schools remain optimistic that the fall's football season remains in play, at stake is at least $4.1 billion in fiscal-year revenue for the athletics departments at just the 50-plus public schools in the Power Five conferences if the season is canceled. That's an average of more than $78 million per school, a USA TODAY Sports analysis of schools’ financial reports to the NCAA shows.

The pandemic has claimed more than 26,000 lives across the nation, and there are over 608,000 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Worldwide, the death toll was more than 126,000 with almost 2 million cases. Almost half a million have recovered worldwide according to the data, although not all health departments provide numbers of patients who have recovered.

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Trump retreats, says governors will open states on their timelines

President Donald Trump also walked back comments he made Monday when he said he wanted the nation to be open by May 1 and he would expect states to follow his orders.

On Tuesday, he said each governor would make that decision for their state based on how well the coronavirus outbreak was being managed. He also said he would encourage states that believe they are ready to start opening up economically before May 1, although that date goes against guidelines for the Centers for Disease Control.

“If we’re unhappy with a state, we’re going to let them know … we’ll have to do something that’s very serious, we’ll have to maybe close ‘em up and start all over again but I don’t think we’re going to have to do that,” Trump said.

“The governors are going to come out at a time when they’re ready. Some can come out very, very shortly. And we look forward to watching that process. I think it’s going to be a very beautiful process.”

Major college football programs could stand to lose millions

While schools remain optimistic that a 2020-21 football season remains in play amid the coronavirus pandemic, at stake is at least $4.1 billion in fiscal-year revenue for the athletics departments at just the 50-plus public schools in the Power Five conferences.

That's an average of more than $78 million per school, a USA TODAY Sports analysis of schools’ financial reports to the NCAA shows.

That’s more than 60% of these schools’ combined total annual operating revenues, based on amounts reported for the 2019 fiscal year. These estimates do not take into account potential impacts on student fees or money from schools’ general funds, both of which likely would be reduced if students cannot return to campus as usual for the fall semester. Even within the Power Five, there are schools that receive significant amounts from those sources.

--Steve Berkowitz

Thousands of health care workers sickened by COVID-19

More than 9,000 health care workers across the U.S. contracted COVID-19 as of last week and at least 27 died, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC conceded the report's findings underestimate the number of cases among health care workers because of uneven reporting across the country. While in some states only 3% of COVID-19 patients were health care personnel, the number was closer to 11% in those with more complete reporting.

The report comes a day after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reported hospitals were facing equipment shortages for N95 respirator masks, surgical masks, face shields, gowns and gloves.

– Adrianna Rodriguez and Ken Alltucker

Trump halts funding for World Health Organization

President Donald Trump took aim at the World Health Organization on Tuesday, announcing a halt on funding to the group he said was “severely mismanaging and covering up” the coronavirus crisis.

Trump began the day’s White House task force news conference by attacking the WHO for the job it has done in recent months, claiming that it had “failed” and “must be held accountable.”

“We have deep concerns about whether America's generosity has been put to the best use possible,” Trump said. “The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain, vet and share information in a timely and transparent fashion.

“The WHO’s attack on travel restrictions put political correctness above life-saving measures,” Trump said.

California governor watching six indicators before lifting order

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday six key indicators he and his team are watching to determine how and when to lift the statewide social distancing orders that have been in place since March 19.

While he didn't give a specific date, he indicated that officials will reevaluate their timeline in the next two weeks. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in California has started to slow, signaling the state is successfully flattening the curve.

"We move from surge into suppression," Newsom said, adding that officials see a light at the end of the tunnel. But, he cautioned, this is "perhaps the most difficult and challenging phase of all," and emphasized that "this phase is one where science, where public health, not politics must be the guide."

The indicators: monitor and protect communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; preventing infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; prepping hospitals and health systems to handle surges; developing therapeutics to meet the demand; ensuring businesses, schools, and child care facilities will support physical distancing; determining when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

– Gabrielle Canon, The Desert News

Dr. Anthony Fauci: May 1 economic restart 'a bit optimistic'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the medical face of the White House coronavirus task force, on Tuesday called a May 1 target date for reopening the nation's economy "a bit optimistic" because of the lack of critical testing and tracing procedures.

“We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we’re not there yet,” Fauci said in an interview with The Associated Press.

President Donald Trump was appointing a task force Tuesday to develop plans for reawakening the nation's dormant economy. He has expressed hope to get some areas rolling by May 1 and said he could announce recommendations as soon as this week. Fauci was not in attendance during Tuesday's press conference.

Fauci said easing social-distancing rules should take place on a “rolling” basis, reflecting the ways COVID-19 struck different parts of the country at different times. Testing will be vital because easing social distancing and other guidelines will cause new hot spots to emerge, he said.

“I’ll guarantee you, once you start pulling back (restrictions), there will be infections," Fauci said. "It’s how you deal with the infections that’s going (to) count."

Connecticut governor gives 'shoutout' to Pence task force

Vice President Mike Pence's coronavirus task force deserves a "shoutout" for its good work despite "verbal hand grenades" being tossed at some governors by President Donald Trump, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday. Lamont, a Democrat, said he and governors of five other states – New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island – will make decision together on how best to roll back stay-at-home orders in their region. The president maintains that opening up the economy is his call.

Lamont, in a CNN interview, said coronavirus cases remain on the rise in his state. He said he was at least a month away from loosening any restrictions.

"The governors ... were early in taking care of social distancing, and we're going to take care of getting our economy open again, but in a thoughtful and safe way," Lamont said.

On the West Coast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is preparing to share his plan to transition back to normalcy with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee as part of a “shared vision.”

New saliva test could revolutionize COVID-19 testing

A new coronavirus saliva test developed at Rutgers University that could dramatically accelerate the rate of collections and limit exposure to health care workers could be rolled out as soon as Wednesday. The test, which can be self-administered, will allow for broader population screening than the current nose and throat swabs used at testing facilities, Rutgers officials said. The saliva test also lessens the need for valuable personal protective equipment during the testing process.

"All of this combined will have a tremendous impact on testing," said Andrew Brooks, a Rutgers professor who was involved in developing the test.

– Melanie Anzidei, NorthJersey.com

Politics endangers stimulus plan for small businesses

Billions of dollars in additional relief for small businesses has been left in the crossfire as congressional leaders fight over what should be included in a fresh package of coronavirus aid. At the center of the fight is $250 billion to replenish quickly evaporating funds for the Paycheck Protection Program, a fund for small businesses. That would be added to the nearly $350 billion Congress approved last month as part of the $2.2 trillion pandemic response known as the CARES Act.

The PPP provides business owners with 500 or fewer workers low-interest loans to stay afloat. Those loans will be forgiven by the government if at least 75% of the money goes to keeping employees on the payroll. Democrats, however, insist that more money for hospitals and state and local governments must be included in the legislation.

– Christal Hayes

Virus kills bishop who refused to cancel service

Bishop Gerald Glenn, who led services March 22 at his Virginia church despite calls for social distancing, has died of complications from COVID-19, a church elder announced. Glenn told his congregation at the New Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Chesterfield that "God is larger than this dreaded virus – you can quote me on that." The next day, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered nonessential businesses closed and banned all gatherings of more than 10 people. On March 30, Northam issued a statewide stay-at-home order.

Glenn's daughter, Mar-Gerie Crawley, posted a video on social media April 4 announcing that Glenn and his wife, Marcietia, had tested positive for the coronavirus.

– N'dea Yancey-Bragg

Pro wrestling draws 'essential' status in Florida

Florida has declared professional sports league employees and their media partners "essential services" so professional wrestling's WWE can operate despite a statewide "shelter-in-place" order that will expire on April 30 at the earliest.

"With some conversation with the governor's office regarding the governor's order, they were deemed an essential business," Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said Monday. WWE has been airing matches – including a two-night, Wrestlemania 36 event that featured former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski – from its training center in Orlando without fans in the stands. "We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times," WWE said in a statement.

– Chris Bumbaca

Some will get stimulus checks Wednesday, others face long wait

Many Americans will begin to receive stimulus payments of up to $1,200 in their bank accounts on Wednesday, according to the Treasury Department, and the IRS has launched a portal on its website that allows Americans to input their direct deposit information to speed up getting the cash. Those who require a paper check in the mail face a longer wait, and some new parents and others may have to wait until next year to get part of their payouts.

“The intent (of the law) is to get the money out as fast as you can, but when you do that, you can’t possibly anticipate every possible situation,” said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute’s Tax Policy Center. “So there are going to people who fall through the cracks and are going to have to wait until next year to get their money.”

– Michael Collins

More coronavirus news and information from USA TODAY

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• COVID-19 patients need ventilators to survive: Here's how they work.

• Mapping coronavirus: Tracking the outbreak, state by state.

• There's nothing normal about learning from home: How coronavirus school closures could lead to ‘historic academic regression.'

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•The loneliest road trip: I drove across the country during coronavirus. Here's what I saw.

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Contributing: The Associated Press