Coronavirus cases, related deaths rising in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – The number of coronavirus cases and deaths due to the illness caused by the virus are rising in Texas, according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Saturday.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases in the state during the past two weeks has increased from 5,040.8 per day to 7,022.7 and the average number of daily deaths rose 127 daily to 222. The rolling average of the positivity rate is also on the rise during the same time period, from 5.8% on Feb. 19 to 12.5% on March 5.

The state health department on Saturday reported 4,713 newly confirmed or probable cases and 233 additional deaths due to COVID-19 for a fatality total of 44,367 since the pandemic began.

There have been more than 2.3 million confirmed virus cases in Texas since the pandemic began a year ago.