TEXAS — New cases of COVID-19 and resultant hospitalizations are down significantly in Texas. That can probably be chalked up to wide vaccine availability.

The bad news, however, is the state has reached a death toll that likely seemed unfathomable just a year ago.

According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, as of Wednesday 50,098 Texans have died due to COVID-19. That’s out of 2,886,638 confirmed cases.

It should be noted that Johns Hopkins consistently reports higher numbers than does the state of Texas.

The Texas Department of State Health Services, as of Wednesday, put the death toll in the state at 49,010.

Johns Hopkins researchers say the rolling two-week average of new cases continues to decline, with a 480-case decrease in the average number of daily cases as of Wednesday. That is a 13% decrease.

The number of vaccinated Texans continues to rise. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that almost 38% of the Texas population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 26% were fully vaccinated.

Texas DSHS on Wednesday reported 2,871 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, 591 new probable cases and 69 new fatalities attributed to the virus.

The state reports that 2,796 Texans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.