COVID-19 cases down, thanks to vaccines, but doctors warn we are not in the clear yet
As young people continue to get vaccinated, the community as a whole takes a step closer to reaching herd immunity and protecting children too young for the current vaccines.
Posted — Updated"I think that age group is around 20% of the population, so it’s excellent news," Dr. David Weber, the medical director of hospital epidemiology at UNC Health said.
As young people continue to get vaccinated, Weber said, the community as a whole takes a step closer to reaching herd immunity and protecting children too young for the current vaccines.
Vaccine availability has helped lower the average number of new cases in the state. As of May 25, North Carolina was seeing an average of 875 positive COVID-19 tests per day.
WRAL Executive Producer Ashley Talley said that wasn’t the case, so far.
Weber said vaccines are the reason for lower numbers of COVID-19 cases, but only time will tell the true impact of the mask mandate being lifted.
"I think we will need to wait 4-8 weeks, to see if there was any effect in increasing the numbers, it’s too early to tell," he said.
More than 42% of the North Carolina population – 4.4 million people – have gotten at least one vaccine shot. Weber says that is good progress since vaccinations began in January.
He estimates 85% of the population would need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity.
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