SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – With COVID-19 cases increasing across the country, in part due to the Delta variant, many are wondering whether natural immunity to the virus is sufficient to protect them after tests that are already positive. While health officials say natural immunity is “a good thing”, they continue to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. A doctor from Utah explains why.

On Friday, Dr. Brandon Webb, an infectious disease doctor at Intermountain Healthcare, announced that the hospital system’s intensive care units have reached 100% capacity. The same goes for another state health system at the University of Utah. As hospitals in Utah and across the country see an increase in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, doctors continue to encourage everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they haven’t already.