The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's safe for vaccinated people to drop their masks in only eight counties across North Carolina. All other 92 counties have "high" or "substantial" transmission of the virus, and the CDC says that residents of those areas need to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Over the weekend, the state added seven more counties to the list — areas with high or substantial transmission of COVID-19. New data reported on Saturday shows that even though Wake County has more than 66% of residents fully vaccinated, there's still "high" transmission of the virus.
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Johnston, Harnett and Chatham counties were also experiencing a high transmission of the virus, while transmission rates Durham, Orange and Alamance county were doing slightly better.
Coronavirus cases have exploded in North Carolina, along with other states across the South and Midwest, in recent weeks. The state reported 3,268 new infections on Thursday, the highest one-day total in more than five months. As people drop masks, and vaccination rates remain below 70%,
North Carolina is averaging more coronavirus cases this summer than last summer, but average deaths remain low. Last August, we were seeing 27 deaths on average each day. Now we're seeing 6.
The CDC recommends vaccinated residents in the below counties can drop their masks:
- Alleghany
- Bertie
- Hertford
- Mitchell
- Pasquotank
- Perquimans
- Washington
- Watauga
For the most part, vaccination rates have plateaued in North Carolina. During the rush to get vaccines in March, the state doled out around 350,000 vaccines a day. Now, that number is closer to 40,000.
Orange County has the highest vaccination rate in the state, with nearly 70% of its residents vaccinated. Hoke County has the lowest vaccination rate, with less than 30% of people fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
On Friday, the state reported that 1,168 people were currently hospitalized with COVID-19. The majority of those people are unvaccinated, officials say.
These trends are worrying some parents and health officials, as back-to-school is right around the corner.
Over the past week, WRAL has reported on outbreaks in Wake County Public Schools and local summer camps. Five students at the Franklin Academy charter school in Wake Forest have tested positive for coronavirus in the past week, putting more than 200 others in quarantine.
Some parents are starting to become worried about the health of their children this fall, and say that school officials will need to make adjustments before the next semester begins. Other parents say that face masks and coronavirus vaccines are an infringement on their child's rights.
Officials with WCPSS have not yet publicly announced if they would be implementing a mask or vaccine mandate for students.