New data observed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention infers that young people are more likely to disrespect social distancing rules. A recent report notes they were the least likely to avoid crowded spaces or queues.
The report also mentions that more steps need to be taken to inform young people between the age of 18 to 30 about the potential risks and the way in which they can contribute to the spread of the pandemic in the long run.
Resilient but vulnerable
While younger people aren’t as likely to require intensive care or die due to COVID-19 severe forms of the infection can be encountered among people of all ages, even those who seem to be healthy. It is also well-known that people in their 20s are quite active and visit lots of places where the virus can be spread.
CDC collected the information with the help of surveys for participants above the age of 18. Researchers conducted three surveys, one in April, one at the start of May, and one in late May. The number of adults who wear masks rose to 89% in June.
Major declines
Masks may have become more popular, but social distancing and avoiding unnecessary trips to public spaces, as well as hand washing, have declined, even if many of the participants mentioned that they didn’t go to restaurants. Overall, there were sharp declines among mitigation behaviors, leading to worries among researchers.
According to the CDC, the avoidance of mitigation behaviors might be one of the reasons that contributed to a surge in COVID-19 cases among young Americans, a trend that is likely to persist for at least a while.
New campaigns should target young people and encourage the use of social distancing and other preventive measures to prevent an accelerated growth in the number of cases during the winter months.