If 75% of people diagnosed are age 18-24, we're not going to have huge deaths

[Marcellemouse]

Heard this earlier on the news. Three quarters of current positive cases are in the 18-24 year old age group. As these are mainly going to be asymptomatic or mild case we're probably not heading for an imminent NHS disaster. I know they can pass the virus on etc, but if vulnerable/ elderly take sensible precautions this could not be as bad as it seems.

There are plenty of university staff who are teaching face to face, despite significant outbreaks on campus. That includes people in their 60s, and with health conditions that make them vulnerable. DH and I work at different universities and both are teaching f2f.

@FreshFreesias

I agree OP, but the bedwetters wont have it.

Vile.

There are currently some Manchester Uni students in ICUs.

@Marcellemouse

Heard this earlier on the news. Three quarters of current positive cases are in the 18-24 year old age group. As these are mainly going to be asymptomatic or mild case we're probably not heading for an imminent NHS disaster. I know they can pass the virus on etc, but if vulnerable/ elderly take sensible precautions this could not be as bad as it seems.

Oh oh good luck with the replies

The problem is that it just delays the disaster when the young get it in large numbers first. After they all get it everyone older then catches it from them and then each other.

The idea that millions of people under 25 can get covid without it then passing to the rest of the population is now known as the "no wee-ing lane in the swimming pool" theory.

Look up "Long Covid". It's emerging that the serious and longterm damage caused by covid can affect any adults, including young ones and those whose infection seemed very mild at the time.

< www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54296223>

We're going to have to face up to long covid as if a vaccine is ever developed only the over 50s will get it.

@Janevaljane

So who are these students in close contact with? Supermarket staff? Bar staff? My dc doesn't get near any uni staff! Online and maybe the odd socially distanced lecture.

If they're in halls, the domestic staff, catering staff, security? DH is a cleaner in uni halls. They're not told which mini-flats have positive cases in and there's been no additional risk assessments since the outbreaks on campus. I'm scared stiff he'll bring it home with him.

I know a teenager who ended up in ICU with it back in March. Obviously there are far fewer serious cases at that age, but they do happen.

My dd is at uni. She's on campus twice a week, and the rest of the time she's at her student house in a normal residential street. Luckily, her housemates are all just as geeky and rule abiding as she is, and they only go to uni or shopping. But loads of uni students have part time jobs, or they go out to pubs/restaurants, etc so are mixing with the rest of society (ie different age groups who are more likely to have complications).

It's pretty difficult to self protect as people who are at risk from this virus if you have to work. I'm clinically vulnerable, but am at work in a secondary school (where a load of these young people go every day, while the virus is rampaging through their ranks), I can't just not go to work, so how can I protect myself?

@mejon exactly. I hope your DH is ok and that it doesn't come home. I feel the same fear as a secondary teacher.

Thank you. You too

What's the source of the 75% figure?

Latest PHE data shows median age of pillar 2 tests for previous 2 weeks is 28 years old, ie half the cases are over 28 years old and half are under that age.

(For pillar 1 testing the median age is 47 years old.)

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