FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. – Starting Tuesday, the Forsyth County Department of Public Health is offering $25 gift cards to anyone ages 18 and older who gets their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Anyone who drives someone else to get their first dose is also eligible to get a gift card. This includes vaccinations at the public health department, North Star LGBTQ Community Center and Rupert Bell Park.      

Health officials say the summer card program is designed to offset the time and transportation costs of getting vaccinated. This comes as state health experts say they are "very concerned" about increasing COVID-19 trends in North Carolina.

The state reported nearly 6,000 new cases of the virus in the past six days. That's the most since early May. There are now 612 people hospitalized with the virus.         

That's up by nearly 150 people in the past week and it's the highest single-day number since June 3.