Coronavirus: New data shows more young people are testing positive

DAYTON — New data is showing that more young people are testing positive for the coronavirus across the nation, but the same is true for some communities here in our area.

The Dayton and Springfield communities in particular have shown an increase in cases among young people.

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News Center 7 obtained data from Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Clark County Combined Health District. In regard to those numbers, young people are being defined as those who fall within the ages of 20 and 39.

The shift in demographics for people testing positive for COVID-19 is happening in states like Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Georgia among others.

After analyzing data collected from Montgomery County, it was found that the age group with the highest number of confirmed cases at 236 is for people between 30 and 39. The second highest age bracket is people in their twenties with 217 confirmed cases as of Sunday.

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Combined, people who are in their twenties and thirties make up nearly 36 percent of the total number of cases in the county.

These are overall cases not hospitalizations, but it’s people who are are getting sick and can spread to more high risk populations.

Data out of Clark County shows that an even higher percentage of cases are within the 20 through 39 age group, counting for 51 percent of all cases in the county. As of last Thursday, people in their twenties make up nearly a third of all cases in Clark County.

News Center 7′s John Bedell spoke with Dan Suffoletto from Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County about why the total number of cases may be skewing younger.

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“Certainly the increase in testing has played a role in it as we expand the criteria for people being tested,” Suffoletto said.

“People going back to work and businesses opening up again where there are more places for people to go, that also contributes to it. And then also just the activities of younger people who tend to socialize more. That also contributes to it.”

Public health experts say this just shows the importance of taking proper precautions when you’re out and about, social distancing and wearing a mask which is something that can protect not just yourself but others too.

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