Texas Briefly

Texas reports 172 COVID-19 deaths; fewer hospitalized

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas reported 172 more deaths Friday, and state health officials said the number of hospitalizations with the illness the virus causes has resumed its downward trend.

The deaths raised the death toll for the coronavirus pandemic to more than 41,600, but hospitaliza tions fell by 117 patients to 7,757 Thursday, the most recent number available from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The confirmed and probable coronavirus cases reported to the state rose by 2,791 to 2,577,131, of which an estimated 227,726 are active.

Texas’ COVID-19 deaths are at more than 41,600, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases in Texas has fallen by 13,998.9, a decrease of 73.6%, according to figures from Johns Hopkins.