Throughout the last 16 months of the pandemic, there have been surges in COVID-19 cases because of holiday gatherings.

This Fourth of July could be the same because of the new delta variant, which is much more contagious and rapidly spreading across the country.

Doctors say the delta variant poses more of a risk in areas with low vaccination rates. North Carolina and South Carolina have about 43% of the population fully vaccinated. That’s lower than the national average.

As the country celebrates its independence, there are concerns certain parts are at risk of undoing the work to break free from the pandemic.