Texas COVID Numbers Falling Over 2 Weeks After Mask Mandate & Restrictions Lifted
Cases continue to drop after Gov. Greg Abbott opened up his state
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COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in Texas, over two weeks after the state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott, lifted mask mandates and allowed businesses to begin operating at 100 percent capacity.
Earlier this month, Gov. Abbott faced criticism from Democrats and Joe Biden after he made masks optional for Texans and lifted other pandemic-related restrictions.
The move coincided with a massive vaccine rollout across the state.
Abbott championed the success in Texas in a statement on Twitter.
"Today Texas recorded the lowest 7-day COVID positivity rate since that data began being calculated: 5.43%," the governor announced.
"We also recorded the largest daily number of vaccines administered to Texans: 342,849."
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"More Texans getting vaccines will keep down the positivity rate," he said, adding that receiving the vaccine was "always voluntary."
Today Texas recorded the lowest 7-day Covid positivity rate since that data began being calculated: 5.43%.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 26, 2021
We also recorded the largest daily number of vaccines administered to Texans: 342,849.
More Texans getting vaccines will keep down the positivity rate.
Always voluntary.
Texas reported 2,239 new infections Saturday, roughly 500 fewer cases on average from the previous week, according to data from the state’s health department.
Biden slammed Abbott's decision -- which was shortly followed by similar mandate removals by Mississippi -- as "Neanderthal thinking."
"We've been able to move that all the way up to the end of May to have enough [vaccines] for every American, to get every adult American to get a shot," Biden told reporters from the White House earlier this month.
"The last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking."
As states have increased the number of vaccines administered in people's arms, health officials have warned states against lifting protective measures too quickly, as extremely contagious coronavirus variants are on the rise.
"We've been able to move that all the way up to the end of May to have enough [vaccines] for every American, to get every adult American to get a shot," Biden told reporters from the White House Wednesday.
"The last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking."
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While Texas reported decreased caseloads, the nation reported a 7% increase over the previous week, with an average of about 7,000 new cases per day, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a White House press briefing Friday.
"I remain deeply concerned about this trajectory," Walensky said.
"We have seen cases and hospital admissions move from historic declines to stagnations and increases.
"We know from prior surges that if we don’t control things now, there is a real potential for the epidemic curve to soar again."
Walensky said the U.S. is vaccinating 2.5 million people a day, with over 140 million doses administered so far – a trend that means the bulk of the U.S. population could be vaccinated by mid-June if there are no problems with vaccine production and distribution.
"Please keep wearing your well-fitting mask and taking the public health actions now that we know can reverse these concerning trends," the director concluded.
