Young adults from the ages of 18 to 39 in the South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 infection than other age groups, according to a press release.
“These are often the people we see working in our essential jobs,” SCPHD Public Health Division Director Logan Hudson said. “They are exposed to hundreds of people every day, which puts them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. We can protect them by wearing masks and urging the people around us to practice social distancing.”
Approximately 21.54% of COVID-19 cases in SCPHD are found in 18- to 29-year-old patients. 18.07% of cases are 30- to 39-year-old patients. This data is updated consistently on the SCPHD COVID-19 website.
This seems to be the case across Idaho as well. According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare COVID-19 demographics, which are available on the Tableau Dashboard off the Idaho COVID-19 website, approximately 27.01% of COVID-19 cases, which accounts for 1,082 cases as of June 20, were found in 18- to 29-year-old patients. 16.67% of cases, or 668 cases as of June 20, were 30- to 39-year-old patients.
“We are also calling on our young adults to be extra careful with their health. They are less likely to die from COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get very sick,” SCPHD Director Melody Bowyer said. “Cases of stroke, blood clots leading to amputation and more severe symptoms have been reported in previously healthy young people.”
Latah County’s public health district, Idaho North Central Public Health District, tells a different story. As of June 19, INCPHD had 95 cases of COVID-19. 8.42% of those cases were 20- to 29-year-old patients. 4.21% of those cases were 30- to 39-year-old patients. The age group with the highest number of COVID-19 infections in INCPHD is 80- to 89-year-old patients, with 25.26% of cases in the district. This data is updated consistently on the INCPHD COVID-19 website.
For updated information on COVID-19 across Idaho, visit our COVID-19 update pages in English and en Español.
Lex Miller can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu