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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report stating that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is increasing among young adults. And this increase is preventing the pandemic from subsiding.
The pandemic
The pandemic was declared on March 11 of this year and has since stopped the world. Government warnings from around the world have urged people to stay indoors to break the chain of transmission for this highly infectious virus. In general, the infection is less dangerous for young people and age remains one of the important factors associated with hospitalization and death due to the COVID-19 disease. More than 995,000 people have already died due to the infection worldwide.
The weekly median age of persons with emergency department visits related to COVID-19-like illnesses, positive results of the SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, and Confirmed COVID-19, § Cases and People Who Have Been All Tested RT-PR for SARS-CoV-2, by US Census Region – United States May 3 – Aug 29 from 2020
Irresponsible behavior
Despite government and scientific advisories asking people to stay indoors and avoid crowded places, young adults continue to visit bars, restaurants and beaches. One of the best options to prevent infection is physical distance of around 6 feet, the use of masks, and proper hand hygiene. Young people have been socializing and ignoring these tips during the summer on college campuses, and thus the infection remains unstoppable, says the CDC. The CDC report states that more than one in five COVID-19 cases are among adults between the ages of 20 and 29.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, explained that these findings are not surprising. He said in a statement: “We’ve seen the demographic shift in infections, and it’s not just because we have the ability to screen young people … But younger people are much more likely to be risk tolerant.” They are more likely to take risks, he added.
Waves of infections
There are surges or surges in the number of infection cases in the United States. These waves are the result of a further increase in the number of infections. New waves of infections among older and middle-aged adults may come from young adults, according to new research from the CDC.
These waves of infections have often originated among young adults who have flocked to parties, bars, or shared space in dormitories or crowded places. Although their infections are usually mild and remit spontaneously, it is the older adults who contract the infection from the young who are at risk.
Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in his statement: “This is what we were concerned about would happen if young adults started meeting in greater amount”. He added: “We have to turn this around … Leaders need to better communicate with young people about how essential they are to keeping this epidemic under control.” Currently, the warnings ask the elderly to stay indoors and allow the young to come out. This “won’t work,” Inglesby said. Dr. Inglesby recalled: “The young and the old are connected in our world.”
The CDC report
All COVID-19 cases were included in 50 states and the District of Columbia between May and August this year for the report. High incidences of cases were observed in adults between 20 and 29 years old. When there were spikes in cases among these adults, there was also a significant increase in cases among older adults over 60, according to the report. This was particularly true in the south.
In certain states such as Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, an increase in cases among people between the ages of 20 and 39 was followed by an increase in cases among people between 40 and 59 within nine days and those older than 60 years within 15 days. , the researchers noted. This second increase in a few days was the result of infection among the young, the report says.
The report concluded: “Strict adherence to community mitigation strategies and personal preventive behaviors of younger adults is necessary.”
University campuses
One of the sources of infections is university campuses. At 1,200 campuses across the country, 88,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections have been recorded, says one of the databases.
According to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who spoke at a congressional hearing this week, it was wrong to send home college campus students who have seen outbreaks of cases. He said that “universities should be able to accommodate students in a facility, perhaps in a separate dormitory or on a separate floor, so that they are not spread out among the student body. “Sending them home would bring the infection home and into the community, he explained. He said: “But do not send them home to your community because of the likelihood that they will bring the infection to the community.”
Studies are also looking at spikes in cases as colleges open. Martin Andersen, one of the authors of the CDC report, a health economist and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, stated: “We only saw that happen when the university opened for teaching primarily in person.”
Occupational hazard
Not all young people get the infection from partying or attending college, the report says. A large portion of the young population works in retail stores, food service industries, child care centers, public transportation, etc. These people may be at risk of contracting the infection from their regular contacts, experts say.
Much needed social connections
Julia L. Marcus, assistant professor of population medicine at Harvard Medical School, said young people need to find alternatives to stay socially connected for their well-being. She said they don’t need to be demonized for the decisions they are making. “We cannot allow the moral outrage at the party to distract us from addressing the occupational and domestic hazards that continue to drive this pandemic,” he said.
Expert advice
Tegan K. Boehmer, epidemiologist and lead author of the CDC report, said: “My message to younger adults is that they understand that they can play a role in transmitting Covid-19 to family, friends and others in their communities. , and they play an important role in our ability to contain the pandemic. “He added:” There is a possibility that they are unknowingly transmitting Covid to others during this presymptomatic or asymptomatic state. “
