The outbreak in Texas

This week’s COVID-19 digest

Fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks indoors or outdoors in most situations, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Moments after this announcement from the CDC, data showed that 40 percent of Texans 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 40 percent of the state’s overall population is fully vaccinated.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds, and first doses were administered Wednesday across the country.

More than 11.6 million people now have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is 52 percent of the population 16 and older. More than 9.1 million Texans are now fully vaccinated, which is 41 percent of the population.

In Bexar County, 820,369 people have received at least one vaccine dose. More than 651,000 people are now fully vaccinated, and more than 1.4 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the county.

Texas reported 15,752 new COVID cases, making it a month straight with a decline in weekly reported cases. There were 308 newly reported deaths in Texas, the 11th straight week with a decline.

Hospitalizations remain low, and there are 2,323 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 statewide. There have been fewer than 3,000 patients in Texas hospitals for more than a month at this point.

The positive test rate continues to remain below 5 percent and is currently at 4.24 percent.