DATA: 4 in every 10 Galveston County adults fully vaccinated against COVID-19

COVID-19 infection rates are decreasing in Galveston County as vaccines are distributed to adults, state- and county-level data shows.

The number of positive cases in the county is trending downward: the current seven-day positive test average is about 34 cases, which is nearly 30% lower than the seven-day average from two weeks ago, according to the Galveston County Health District. Of the 33,553 total positive cases since mid-March 2020, 1,741—or about 5%—are currently active.

While case fatality remains at 1%, county residents are dying from COVID-19 at slower rates this spring. The total number of deaths is 347, meaning 43 more county residents have died from COVID-19 since March 5. Between Feb. 3 and March 5, more than 60 residents died as a result of the virus.

Furthermore, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has decreased by 57% in two months. On March 5, 73 county residents were hospitalized with the virus, and 31 are hospitalized with COVID-19 as of May 5. Click here for more data related to the spread of COVID-19 in Galveston County.

Four in every 10 residents ages 16 and over are fully vaccinated as of May 5, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard; half of county residents ages 16 and up have received at least one vaccine dose. Of residents ages 65 and up, approximately 76% have received at least one vaccine dose and about 67% are fully vaccinated, per DSHS.

A total of 310,560 doses have been allocated to Galveston County since mid-December. By mid-April, more than 30,000 doses were being allocated per week, although the number has since decreased to 17,890 as of the week of May 3, per DSHS. Allocation statistics are updated each Monday.

First doses are allocated largely to hospitals, followed by public health or government entities. Click here for further breakdowns of vaccine distribution data.