COVID-19 is still circulating in the community, and county leaders continue to push vaccinations.

At this week’s county board meeting, Commissioner Freeman Hardison said there’s been an increase in coronavirus cases showing up at the Wayne UNC Health Care hospital.

Hardison says younger people — 50 and under — are now being infected with the virus.

Wayne County Board Chair Wayne Aycock says the local immunization numbers are “disappointing.”

County Manager Craig Honeycutt continues to urge residents to get inoculated.

The Wayne County Health Department is willing to come and vaccinate groups of 20 people or more.

COVID vaccine is available at the Wayne County Health Department.  You can schedule an appointment through WayneGov.com/vaccine although walk-ins are also welcome.

According to Thursday’s figures from the N.C Department of Health and Human Services, 41,944 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Wayne County, representing 34% of the county’s population.

38,974 people have been fully vaccinated, which is just 32% of the population in Wayne County.