COVID-19 cases rise among young people across the U.S. and Canada
By Kaniehtonkie
As states and provinces reopen and cases rise among younger people across Canada and the United States medical experts look at this trend. Common statements have been made by infectious disease experts from the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control on what worries infectious disease experts on this trend. Younger people fair better overall with systems and recovery, but young infected people will in turn infect older people.
According to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the trend toward more cases in young people is “not surprising” as younger people are more likely to engage in risky behaviors right now.
“They get infected first, then they come home, and then they infect the older people,” Fauci said. “The older people get the complications, and then they go to the hospitals.”
World Health Organization Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme expressed a similar notion in a statement on Monday saying that more young people could be leaving the house thanks to relaxed mitigation measures.
Ryan stated, “That may reflect the fact that younger people are more mobile and are getting out and taking advantage of the reduction in the restrictions of movement.”
The shifts in demographics by age have been reported across the southern parts of the U.S. in Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and other states many of which were the first to reopen following pandemic shutdowns.
In a similar remark, the former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Tom Frieden wrote in a Twitter post this recent rise in cases among young adults could lower Covid-19 death rates, until those young people go on to infect others.
Ontario is one of the hardest struck provinces in Canada. Pandemic cases of COVID-19 are rising in an unexpected group: young people largely in their 20s. On Tuesday, Ontario reported its first casualty under the age of 20. The latest statistics indicate that the age group with the highest number of cases in Ontario is people between the ages of 40-59 (10,271, or 30.5 percent) followed by people ages 20-39 (9,558, or 28.4 per cent).In large metropolitan areas, the Greater Toronto Area has also reported relatively higher numbers of cases among young people. On June 21, Montreal remained the Quebec’s epicenter with 27,042 cases and 3,329 deaths.
Akwesasne’s number of COVID-19 cases remains low due to the vigilance of local authorities and COVID-19 mitigated measures placed on the community early on. Many of these restrictions remain in place as areas surrounding Akwesasne reopen.
In response to the recent trend of younger people contracting COVID-19, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne recently posted on their Facebook page;
COVID-19 CASES RISING AMONGST YOUNG ADULTS ACROSS ONTARIO
Across Ontario, a new trend is occurring: while cases of COVID-19 overall are lowering, there is an increase of cases in young adults aged 18-34.
Please be mindful that although the weather is nice, individuals must maintain social distancing even when outside with others. It is recommended that you do not gather with more than 10 individuals and to maintain physical distance (2 meters or 6 feet away) from others. It is also recommended to wear a facial covering whenever possible, to protect yourself and others.
In any situation, please consider the health of our community members, particularly the vulnerable and elderly, whenever you are in groups. Although individuals can be asymptomatic, the virus can be passed on to others and could cause a spread within the community.
If you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19, please contact the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne: Community Health Program at 613-575-2341 ext. 3220.
Reader Comments(0)