Two weeks after Texas eased Covid-19 restrictions, the state has so far not seen an increase in new cases: reported infections continue to decline statewide, but have recently shown signs of leveling off.
Gov. Greg Abbott has lifted a statewide mask mandate and allowed businesses to operate at full capacity, without limits, starting March 10th. “Now is the time to open Texas 100%,” the Republican said on March 2 when he announced the changes. “State mandates are no longer needed.”
On the day the restrictions were lifted, the seven-day state average confirmed by Covid-19 cases was about 4,900, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The latest data show a seven-day average of about 3,400 cases.
Last year, after a one-month hiatus at the start of the pandemic, Texas companies were allowed to reopen several degrees in May. By the end of June, the daily confirmed cases in the state had increased sixfold compared to the number reported in early May. In July, Mr Abbott instituted a masked mandate as infection rates and hospitalizations continued to rise and the state became a focal point for summer growth.
To date, the same increase in cases has not been reported.