Texas’ Covid-19 hospitalizations falling from record highs

AUSTIN, Texas — The number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients in Texas continues to fall from record highs as the state nears the end of what has been its deadliest month of the pandemic.

State health officials Monday reported fewer than 13,000 people were being treated for the virus in Texas hospitals, marking the seventh consecutive day of declining patient loads.

More than 34,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Texas, the second-most in the nation behind California. More than 5,000 new cases were reported statewide Monday, including 254 in El Paso.

Nationwide, coronavirus deaths and cases per day in the U.S. dropped markedly over the past couple of weeks but are still running at alarmingly high levels. The U.S. is recording just under 3,100 deaths a day on average, down from more than 3,350 less than two weeks ago.