One troublesome rumor regarding the coronavirus global pandemic is that the virus only affects elderly patients. And while it may be true that four out of five deaths in the U.S. have so far been among people 65 and older, it doesn’t mean younger age groups aren’t at risk too.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of confirmed coronavirus cases so far found 38 percent of hospitalized American patients were between the ages of 20 and 54.
“These preliminary data also demonstrate that severe illness leading to hospitalization, including ICU admission and death, can occur in adults of any age with COVID-19,” read the report.
White House officials said those reports are being mirrored in Europe as well, and theorize it may be because young people are disproportionately infected when compared to other age groups:
“In Texas, the coronavirus patients who are in critical condition include: A Dallas-area woman in her 20s; a Dallas-area woman in her 30s; a man and woman in their 40s in Montgomery County; and a man in his 40s in Lewisville,” reported KHOU.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Texas has climbed to 143 as of Friday morning. More than 2,000 Texans have been tested so far, more than two weeks after the first case was discovered.
Photo: Jonas Güttler/picture alliance via Getty Images
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
