Coronavirus cases are increasing within the state as the delta variant is now the dominant strain.

Although more than 5 million people in New Jersey are fully vaccinated, News 12 is told the uptick is blamed on a combination of a return to more socializing without masks, people traveling and large gatherings indoors and out.

"It's important to note even at the relatively low rates now, we're still losing on average 5 New Jerseyans a day that are dying from COVID,” says Dr. Edward Lifshitz, medical director at the department of Health’s Communicable Disease Service. "So, when you throw these things together - a more infection variant as people are interacting more and more, you'd expect to see more cases."

Medical experts say most cases are stemming from those unvaccinated and it only reinforces the importance of getting vaccinated. They say it should also encourage people to continue following CDC and state DOH guidelines.