We have pondered for a while over new knowledge of our immunity weakening to onslaughts of the virus causing COVID-19. This seems a rational explanation to us for the skewed mortality rates. Now researchers have developed a theory the under 20’s are half as likely to catch Covid-19 in the first place. Could it be safer to re-open schools than we thought?
Why Do They Say Under 20’s are Half as Likely to Catch Covid-19?
The researchers based their study on epidemic data from Canada, China, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. They concluded children may be less vulnerable to infection, and could have milder symptoms. Moreover World Health Organization (WHO) has also found most of the known infected people are adults.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have confirmed kids with coronavirus disease typically have mild symptoms. Could this be because younger people are more robust? Knowing under 20’s are half as likely to catch COVID-19 could be useful input to resolving a situation where 90% of the world’s learners are sheltering from school.
Do Developing Countries Have Different Mortality Rates?
This has interesting implications for population demographics. That’s because Europe’s aging population has had more than its fair share of mortality as has New York. Could this mean developing countries with a younger profile might have different epidemic profiles.
The researchers involved in the study appear to agree. However, some of them say this not sufficient reason to drop our guard with summer arrived. Younger people may be less vulnerable to infection. However, the aging population of North America is as susceptible as ever.
Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh played it down the line to the BBC. It is difficult to precisely calculate the impact of school closures, he said. Because knowing the under 20’s are half as likely to catch Covid-19 does not necessarily mean they are less infectious.
Related
How COVID-19 Affects Different Age Groups
The Lost Generation in the Shadow of a Virus
Preview Image: Median Age per Country in 2017
