US CDC: "Young People Can Also Face Serious Risks from COVID-19"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new research findings on the 18th (local time) reported by The Hill and South China Morning Post (SCMP), stating that young adults aged 20 to 40 can also face serious risks from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Until now, the opinion that young people only experience mild symptoms even if infected with COVID-19 had been supported, but the sudden death of a 17-year-old high school student in Korea who showed pneumonia symptoms has raised concerns about the possible link to COVID-19.

According to the reports, the CDC stated in a report that an analysis of 2,449 early COVID-19 cases in the U.S. last month showed that among patients aged 20 to 44, one in seven to as many as one in five required hospitalization. This rate exceeds the hospitalization rate caused by the flu. Among them, 2-4% received treatment in intensive care units. The fatality rate for patients in this age group was only 0.1-0.2%, but it was about twice as high as during the flu season.

Experts warned that although the probability of death from COVID-19 in this age group is very low, permanent damage to the lungs or other organs may occur. The CDC emphasized, "Doctors caring for COVID-19 patients should be aware that this epidemic can cause serious illness in people of all ages." The CDC recommended avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, but foreign media reported that many young people on college campuses and in clubs are not properly following 'social distancing.'

Debbie Bux, coordinator of the White House COVID-19 Task Force, also said at a White House briefing that "there are concerning reports from France and Italy that some young people are in very critical condition and in intensive care units" and added, "We initially focused on the elderly with underlying conditions as being particularly at risk based on early information from China and Korea, but now young people also need to pay attention to our warnings."

Coordinator Bux warned, "Young people should not gather at beaches or restaurants," and said, "Young people may think they are 'invincible,' but they can bring many harms to their grandparents, parents, and others."

Maria Pankerkoover, head of the WHO Emerging Diseases Team, also emphasized, "Children do not necessarily show only mild symptoms after COVID-19 infection." According to an investigation of more than 2,000 child COVID-19 patients in China, most children showed mild or moderate symptoms, but infants and young children are also at risk of severe symptoms.

Bloomberg News also reported on the same day, "So far, data from China showed that the elderly and those with underlying conditions are most vulnerable to COVID-19, but new evidence from Europe indicates that relatively young people in their 20s to early 40s are becoming critically ill from COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.