Coronavirus cases found highest in young adults

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the highest cases of the novel coronavirus are currently observed among young adults, or people belonging to the 20-29 age group.
• Such age brackets had the highest rates of infection from the virus, accounting for 23.2% of the country’s cases and exceeding those of older adults in the 40-49 age bracket.
• The health agency urges young adults to strictly follow health protocols and preventive measures.

Officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observed a shift in the age of people most affected by the novel coronavirus during the summer months, warning that young adults between ages 20 to 29 are driving the spread of COVID-19.

CDC data confirms that such age group also accounts for at least 20% of all confirmed cases, particularly in the Southern states where outbreaks occurred in June.

In May, the average age of Americans impacted by the virus was 46 and those with ages 40-49 who were infected reported 16.4% of the country’s cases, compared to the 20-29 age group which accounted for 15.5% of the nation’s patients.

However, by June, the figures reversed, with the 20-29 age group surpassing the 40-49 age bracket accounting for 20.2% of cases while the older adults made up 16% of the nation’s cases.

In July, people aged 20-29 have continually had the highest rates of COVID-19 cases accounting for 23.2% of COVID-19 cases compared to the 15.2% from the 40-49 age bracket.

The CDC wrote: “Across the southern United States in June 2020, the increase in SARS-CoV-2 infection among younger adults preceded the increase among older adults by 4–15 days (or approximately one to three incubation periods).”

The agency added that the data is backed by similar findings from the World Health Organization.

While the CDC suggested that additional studies be made on community transmission conditions, it also promoted “strict adherence to community mitigation strategies” as well as preventive strategies by younger adults to help stop the spread of the virus to people who are most at risk.

The report was released on the same day that CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told a Senate committee that the current study indicates that although most Americans haven’t been infected with the virus, they are still at risk of infection and death.

In addition, Redfield also said the agency was attempting to set up a nationwide antibody testing to determine the “proportion of the population” that has been infected with the virus, adding that the analysis from the first phase of the study will be posted within the next weeks.

As of Thursday, over 6.9 million cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded in the U.S with a death toll of more than 202,000.

Source: Fox News