CGH Medical Center issued the following announcement on Oct. 2.
Early on in the pandemic, COVID-19 affected more older adults than any other age group. But that seems to have changed over the summer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highest incidence of COVID-19 this summer (June through August) occurred in young adults ages 20 to 29 years old. More than 20% of all cases occurred in this group.
What's more, data showed that regional spikes among adults 20 to 39 years old were often followed by increased rates of infection in older adults 4 to 15 days later. This suggests that younger adults are an important source of COVID-19 spread to older adults.
What's behind the numbers?
There are a number of reasons why young adults may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19. They make up a large number of frontline workers, with jobs in retail, restaurants, bars and social services. So their risk for exposure is often higher.
Young adults also are more likely to have no or mild symptoms once infected. That makes it easier for them to unknowingly spread the virus to others at higher risk for severe illness.
And in some cases, they may be less likely to stick to prevention strategies, like social distancing and avoiding large groups.
What younger adults can do
To help young people avoid catching and spreading the coronavirus, CDC recommends that they:
Avoid gathering in large groups.
Wear face masks when out in public.
Stay at least 6 feet away from others not living in their household.
Follow safe practices while at work. This includes washing their hands often and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
You can also help protect yourself by learning more about how the coronavirus spreads.
Original source can be found here.
Source: CGH Medical Center
Alerts Sign-up