When Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the state’s mask mandate and restrictions on businesses’ operating capacities, the doomsayers warned of catastrophe. Nearly three weeks later, Texas is seeing record-low coronavirus numbers.

Abbott announced at the beginning of the month that the state would be lifting its mask mandate on March 10. Now, 19 days later, the state’s seven-day positivity rate is at its lowest since the start of the pandemic. The number of new daily cases is at its lowest since September. Cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are all declining over the last 14 days, with hospitalizations at a six-month low.