Younger adults are being hospitalized more than any other group for coronavirus

While much of the media coverage surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) says that senior citizens are at the greatest risk, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that people aged 20-54 account for 38 percent of the virus-related hospitalizations.

Yes, it’s true that the older population accounts for the bulk of virus-related deaths, but other than that, the impact is fairly even across the board.

The updated data

As of March 16’s latest count of reported COVID-19 cases, here’s how things break out:

Number of cases

Total number of cases: 4,226

Age 85 or older: 6 percent 

Age 65–84: 25 percent 

Age 55-64: 18 percent 

Age 45-54: 18 percent

Age 20-44: 29 percent 

Age 0-19: 5 percent

Hospitalizations

Total number of hospitalizations: 508

Age 85 or older: 9 percent 

Age 65–84: 26 percent 

Age 55-64: 17 percent 

Age 45-54: 18 percent

Age 20-44: 20 percent 

Age 0-19: Less than 1 percent

ICU admissions

Total number of ICU admissions: 121

Age 85 or older: 7 percent 

Age 65–84: 46 percent 

Age 45-64: 36 percent 

Age 20-44: 12 percent 

Age 0-19: 0 percent

Heads up, young Americans

The CDC’s updated numbers caught pretty much everyone by surprise given the narrative that’s been at the forefront of the pandemic.

“I think everyone should be paying attention to this,” Stephen S. Morse, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, told the New York Times. “It’s not just going to be the elderly. There will be people aged 20 and up. They do have to be careful, even if they think that they’re young and healthy.”

Another physician -- Dr. Christopher Carlsten, head of respiratory medicine at the University of British Columbia -- took the opportunity to wag his finger at those who feel invincible.

“Younger people may feel more confident about their ability to withstand a virus like this,” Carlsten told the Times. He connected the dots a bit further by adding, “if that many younger people are being hospitalized, that means that there are a lot of young people in the community that are walking around with the infection.”

Officials ask young people to change attitudes

The White House’s task force on the epidemic hopes that young people hear the message loud and clear -- and try to reverse their laissez-faire attitude on the virus.

“You have the potential [to spread the virus] to someone who does have a condition that none of us knew about, and cause them to have a disastrous outcome,” Dr. Deborah Birx said, challenging that demographic at a White House briefing on Wednesday.