ALABAMA, USA — COVID-19 numbers have been trending down recently, but with people traveling and getting together this Easter, doctors at UAB say Alabama could see another spike in COVID cases.
UAB Medicine Healthcare Epidemiologist Dr. Rachael Lee says whenever we celebrate a holiday, there is typically an increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations.
Even with more people being vaccinated for the virus, the state could see COVID numbers trending up due to travel and celebrations over Easter weekend.
"I'm hopeful that the vaccines that we have on hand, which are incredibly effective, will help prevent those hospitalizations," said Dr. Lee. "So if we do see an increase, we may not see as high of an increase as we have in the past."
With Alabama rolling back its mask mandate on Friday, April 9, Dr. Lee says they are watching the state's COVID-19 numbers closely.
Dr. Lee says some COVID variants are popping up in Alabama and spreading more easily among younger people. Now that anyone 16 and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama, Dr. Lee recommends for everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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