Health officials are taking note of a concerning new trend among coronavirus cases. According to recent reports, young people are accounting for more positive cases, particularly in the South.
The Huffington Post reports that officials in Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have all reported upticks in COVID-19 diagnosis among people in their 20’s and 30’s. The Florida Department of Health reports that the median age for coronavirus victims has gone from 65 to 36. The Sun Sentinal attributes it to an increase in testing as well as a rollback in lockdown restrictions.
A similar trend can also be seen in Texas where the state has started to see a rise in the average number of new cases. The cause is being blamed on a lack of social distancing among people under 30, as the state’s older population remains indoors, helping to slow the spread. A breach in social distancing among young people made headlines Memorial Day weekend where photos and videos surfaced of them gathered at beaches, close together at pool parties, and convening in close quarters at parks and other recreational sites.
Though several states have seen a rise in cases, doctors in Georgia are saying that there has been a drop in critical care patients with coronavirus. But that doesn’t mean they are not concerned. The trend is disturbing to health care professionals who understand that young people have the potential of infecting their elderly parents and grandparents. It’s why they say safety measures should continue to be implemented as businesses continue to open up.
Despite the disappointing new data on the rise in coronavirus cases, there is a bit of positive news. Multiple reports say that COVID-19 testing from a number of cities suggest that the protests that were ignited in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death haven’t been a contributing factor in the rise in cases. The data is preliminary, but in New York City, once the epicenter of the health outbreak where thousands have converged on its streets, the numbers have remained below three percent for more than two weeks after the start of the demonstrations.