Masks now optional when riding in CATS vehicles: Wednesday, April 20

"Effective immediately, masks are optional on Charlotte Area Transit System vehicles for customers and employees," CATS announced Tuesday.

CATS cited the federal judge ruling in Florida on Monday that struck down the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation, including airplanes. While the ruling is still being reviewed, the Biden administration said the order would be no longer in effect.

As of April 2, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 dashboard, 76% of adults in North Carolina are vaccinated and 38% of children and teens are vaccinated. Data collected during the two-week period between March 20 and April 2 showed no counties in North Carolina are in a high-level risk of illness and strain on the health care system, though six counties are in the medium-risk level. Mecklenburg County is listed in the low-level risk

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/masks-cats-vehicles/275-48491c9c-09f5-432f-b61c-ce65fe3f7c34

Moderna hopes to offer updated COVID-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work.

Today's COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. But the virus continues to mutate, with the super-contagious omicron variant — and its siblings — the latest threat.

Before omicron came along, Moderna was studying a combination shot that added protection against an earlier variant named beta. Tuesday, the company said people given that beta-original vaccine combination produced more antibodies capable of fighting several variants — including omicron — than today’s regular booster triggers.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/moderna-covid-vaccine-omicron/507-3554be0f-a31d-4232-83da-f4d31fa7ea81

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!