The state of Texas recorded zero deaths among people with COVID-19 on May 16 for the first time since March 2020, Gov. Greg Abbott said.
“Today Texas reported: 0 Covid related deaths—the only time that’s happened since data was tracked in March, 2020,” the Republican said on Twitter.
A dashboard run by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows zero newly reported fatalities; the last reported deaths among those with COVID-19 were on May 12, when two people died.
Texas also on May 16 saw the fewest COVID-19 cases in over 13 months, the lowest seven-day COVID-19 positive rate ever, and the lowest number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in 11 months, Abbott said.
According to state officials, 388 cases were newly confirmed, with another 208 cases probable, or believed but not confirmed.
Some 2.7 million patients have recovered from COVID-19, officials estimate.
Cases and hospitalizations have also fallen, while the number of those vaccinated against the CCP virus has continued rising.
Just under 123 million Americans were fully vaccinated against the virus as of May 17. Over half of the population of Texas had received at least one dose as of May 16.
Abbott imposed harsh restrictions in the summer of 2020, such as a statewide mask mandate, but later rescinded the orders. He drew criticism from some, including President Joe Biden, for rolling back the mask mandate and lifting all capacity restrictions on businesses in March. Biden and one of his top medical advisers, Dr. Anthony Fauci, claimed the move was ill-timed and could result in a spike in infections and other metrics.