A new study published Tuesday on the spread of the coronavirus in the United States found that adults ages 20-49 are the biggest spreaders of the virus.
A research team from Imperial College London conducted a study to find out which age groups were most responsible for the spread of viruses across the US. The researchers used mobile phone location data of more than 10 million people and information. who were publicly available about the spread of viruses to conduct their research.
The study, published in the journal Science, found that adults aged 20-49, and even more specifically those aged 35-49, were largely responsible for the large increase in progressive cases in the US
The study estimated that adults aged 35-49 made up 41% of new virus spreads through mid-August, while those aged 20-34 were responsible for 35%.
After October, the group as a whole accounted for 72.2% of emissions, the researchers said.
On the other hand, older adults aged 50-64 accounted for just 15% of emissions through mid-August, the team said.
Similarly, the researchers estimated that children and teens made up only 6% of mid-August distribution. And, as provided after school reopened in October 2020, children under the age of 10 made up less than 5% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, and teenagers aged 10-19 make up less than 10% of emissions, they said.
Earlier studies also reported that children play a very small role in spreading the virus. A study published in June by the Dutch National Institute of Health (RIVM) found that transmission occurs mainly during communication between adults, then from parents to children.
The Imperial College team wrote that “changes in movement and behavior among the broadest group of adults 20-49 underlie the COVID-19 recovery in the U.S. in 2020.” More than 450,000 Americans have died with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, with the majority of deaths recorded following a recovery of cases that began in October.
“This study provides evidence that the 2020 COVID-19 relapses in the U.S. are led by adults ages 20-49, and specifically adults ages 35-49, before and after school reopened, “CNN was cited as a team as stated in the report.
Based on their findings, the team recommended that the focus of efforts to control the spread of the crown virus, including vaccines, should be on adults aged 20-49. However, vaccine stocks remain limited despite the start of national distribution in Turkey and other countries, so further measures are needed to maintain young adult numbers in the meantime.
Professor Haluk Eraksoy from the Faculty of Science of the University of Istanbul in October suggested that COVID-19 should be regularly monitored on some professions that work closely with others. “These professions include supermarket sales, major transport drivers and service sector staff. If these people are found to be superstitious, it will be a catastrophe, ”he said.
With schools in Turkey set to reopen in the coming weeks, the Turkish government has announced a new step in its plan to resume in-house education: vaccine teachers. Teachers, who were not on the priority list for vaccines that started in January, will receive their first vaccine this month. Students will, at the same time, follow the usual health and safety measures such as mandatory mascara wear, social pace and hygiene rules.
Medical experts continue to stress the importance of vaccinating the elderly first as they are at risk of dying from COVID-19. Both in the U.S. and in Turkey, the vaccine was distributed to the oldest members of the population as well as frontline health care workers.
However, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine at George Washington University, on Wednesday highlighted the benefits of vaccinating younger adults as well, suggesting that the best option may be to open the vaccines to all age groups as soon as possible. as possible.
“Now we can put aside, perhaps, a greater percentage of the vaccines for older Americans, but I think we need to start getting the vaccine out to younger people for the real reason – the youngest are the ones who spread the virus, ”Reiner told CNN.
Scientists around the world agree on one thing in this regard: “Ultimately, everyone needs to be vaccinated,” Reiner said.
“If you stop vaccinating older people, you will save their lives as they are at greater risk. And if you get the vaccine for younger people, it will also save lives by spreading the virus, ”he said.