When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it was thought to be affecting mostly seniors, but over time that has changed. In Riverside County, the latest data is showing that those under age 40 are counting for nearly half (48.4%) of all confirmed cases. This is not an anomaly as the New York Times recently reported that people between the ages of 20 and 44 accounted for nearly half of all COVID-19 cases in Arizona, a majority of the cases in multiple cities in Texas like Houston, and in Florida, the average age of those infected went from 65 years old in March to 35 years old in June.
It is imperative that young people take the health crisis seriously by practicing the recommended preventative steps:
- Wear a face mask or covering when in public and intermixing with those outside of your immediate household
- Social distance at least 6 feet from those outside of your immediate household
- Wash your hands often throughout the day especially before eating and drinking
- Avoid touching your face unless you clean or sanitize your hands first
- Disinfect items touched often like surfaces and smartphones
- Stay home unless going out for essential functions
We can get through this together if all of us do our individual part.
Photo Credit: Defense Department Support to FEMA COVID-19
