COVID-19 hospitalizations have nearly doubled in North Texas over the past two weeks, and COVID patients are now using 29 percent of ICU beds in the area.
Many North Texas hospital systems now require employees to get vaccinated. One doctor says a lot of hospitals already require proof of an annual flu shot and other vaccines to protect themselves and patients.
She says some people might find orders from Texas Governor Greg Abbott forbidding mask requirements confusing while doctors are still encouraging people to wear masks for protection against the coronavirus.
She adds that people should still be wearing masks because the delta variant is so contagious.
But the spike in new coronvirus cases has resulted in more Texans getting a vaccine.
Chris Van Deusen with the Texas Department of State Health Services says they were averageing 44,000 vaccines a day in early July, now they're up to about 67,000 per day.
The delta variant has shown even vaccinated people can get infected. Van Deusen says no vaccine is perfect but the big benefit is it will slow the spread and those who still get it may have less serious effects.
The state adminsitered about 300,000 shots a day at the peak in the winter. Speaking of which, COVID-19 case counts in Texas haven't been this high since February.
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