A recent, steady rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations is fueling speculation federal officials could return to mask mandates this fall, though North Carolina laws that took effect this year put new limits on the governor’s unilateral authority to impose public health restrictions.

COVID-19 hospitalizations increased for five consecutive weeks to 12,613 new admissions for the week of Aug. 12, up more than 21% from the week prior, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.