The surprising data, reported by NBC in the Bay Area, found that new COVID-19 patients under the age of 35 made up 44 percent of cases in the Golden State. That’s up from 29 percent just a month ago. These numbers also correspond with a drop in older folks suffering from the disease. The share of patients over 50 years old sunk to 30.5 percent, down from 46 percent last month.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb “That’s really bad, and shocking,” George Lemp, MD, an infectious disease epidemiologist who helped compile the data, told the NBC affiliate. “It may reflect the opening up of California since mid-May, particularly among younger people who may have started to move away from the practices of social distancing and persistent mask use.” Unfortunately, California isn’t alone in reporting increased coronavirus cases in younger people. During a press conference announcing that his city would be pausing their reopening, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also noted that there had been an uptick in infections among people ages 18 to 35. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. But while experts are quick to reinforce their recommendations for all people to practice social distancing and wear face masks, statistics still show that age does have an effect on the course of the virus. Death rates increase gradually for patients as they age and spike exponentially after 54 years old. And for more on how your age affects your COVID-19 risk, check out If You’re Over This Age, Your Coronavirus Risk Doubles.
