Since this COVID-19 global pandemic, medical experts have struggled with its novel and mutating characteristics. Since its discovery at the end of December 2019, this virus has spread from a small province in China to most of the world. As of today, this deadly virus has taken the lives of 482,752 people globally, 121,979 within the United States, and 3,281 in the State of Florida.
As the medical community raced to develop and disseminate testing in the beginning of this pandemic, priority was placed on those who exhibited multiple symptoms of COVID-19. Health officials warned that the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions were more at risk for developing serious illness from the virus and were more likely to die if infected.
With a confluence of variables such as increased availability of testing, the re-opening of gyms, bars, restaurants, and beaches, along with a large portion of asymptomatic spreaders, has led to an exponential rise in positive COVID-19 cases with a great shift in the age demographic towards younger people. According to Time Magazine, “If young people throw caution to the wind, though, it may have ripple effects for older and more vulnerable people. Young healthy people who get mild or asymptomatic disease can still be carriers, potentially transmitting the virus to someone who goes on to have a much more severe case.”
In a statement to the Huffington Post, Aaron Glatt, chairman of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Hewlett, New York stressed, “We’ve unfortunately seen very young people have severe cases of coronavirus. There are people who are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and certainly in their 50s who are unfortunately getting sick. It is a myth that healthy young people have nothing to be concerned about.”
To speak with a healthcare provider at Primary Medical Care Center & Urgent Care Clinic to assess any non-emergency health concerns, including suspected COVID-19 symptoms, please call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic. For life-threatening emergencies, always call 911. For coronavirus updates and resources, please visit our website at www.primarymed.com.
Sources: https://time.com/5858593/younger-people-covid-19/
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429