Two weeks after Texas lifts mask order, there’s still no apparent COVID-19 surge

Two weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) lifted all mandatory mask mandates, there has been no surge in COVID-19 cases across the state.

In addition to removing the mask requirements, Abbott also lifted all restrictions on businesses and permitted them to open at full capacity if they so desired.

What are the details?

A Friday report from The Epoch Times explained that there has been no surge despite Abbott relaxing all restrictions, and, in fact, numbers have steadily decreased over the weeks since Abbott issued the executive order.

On Thursday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that the state saw a seven-day average decrease in the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and coronavirus-related deaths.

In a tweet, the organization wrote, “Update: Texans are slowing the spread with vaccines and #HealthyTexas steps. Keep it up to stop variants from reversing our progress.”

“In the last 7 days #Texas averaged: 2,556 new cases a day, 3,581 current hospitalizations, 122 new fatalities reported a day.”

Reporter Meiling Lee noted that Texas had been witnessing a downward trend in confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalization in the days and weeks preceding Abbott’s March 10 announcement.

“At the time the executive order was issued, March 2, new COVID-19 cases in the state stood at 7,240 cases, with a seven-day average of 7,259 cases,” Lee wrote. “That number dropped to 5,350 cases by March 10 when the executive order came into effect and the economy fully opened.

As of Wednesday, the number of daily new cases stood at 3,827, and a seven-day average of 3,401 cases, Lee added.

Anything else?

On Friday, the New York Times reported that Texas has recently made all adults eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Tuesday, Texas, Indiana and Georgia all announced that residents age 16 years and older would be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, starting Thursday for Georgia residents, Monday for Texas residents, and March 31 for Indiana residents.

In a tweet, Texas’ health department wrote, “With every dose, Texas gets closer to normal and protects more lives from COVID-19 hospitalization and death.”

A recent New York Times analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 22 percent of all Texas residents have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

At least 11 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the report, which was last updated Thursday.