Young people not invincible, 20 percent of US hospitalizations are under 44

Despite infection rates from Wuhan suggesting that the young are at less risk of coronavirus complications, 20 percent of hospitalizations of patients in the US are of people between 20 to 44. This according to a new federal study.

Centers for Disease (CDC) control report that young people are making up a bulk of the infections. This is also the age group that has been flouting warnings, restrictions, and calls for self-isolation and social distancing.

At a Wednesday White House press briefing, Dr. Deborah Birx said that "We think part of this may be that people heeded the early data coming out of China and coming out of South Korea of the elderly or those with  preexisting medical conditions were a particular risk. It may have been that the millennial generation ... there may be  disproportional number of infections among that group and so even if  it's a rare occurrence it may be seen more frequently in that group."

The CDC found that of 508 hospitalized patients, 20 percent are under 44 years old, and 18 percent were between 44 and 54. It's true that the majority of patients experiencing respiratory complications as a result of the coronavirus are over 65 years old, but the early assumptions that the kids would be alright turned out to have been a bit overblown.

These numbers did not take risk factors into account, such as underlying health problems. While this age group does not have intensive care admittances, the higher infection rates are likely due to their continued exposure to the virus as a result of riskier behaviour.

"I hope they just listen to what we've  been saying over the last period of time," President Trump said. "We don't want them gathering, and I see that they do gather including on beaches, and including in  restaurants, young people."

"They  don't realize that — they're feeling invincible, I don't know if you felt invincible when you were young. But they don't realize that they could be carrying lots of bad things home to their grandmother and  grandfather and even their parents," Trump said. "So, we want them to heed  the advice ... and I do believe it's getting through."

France and Italy have also had higher numbers of young people hospitalized as a result of becoming infected with the virus. "There are concerning reports coming out of France and Italy about some  young people getting seriously ill and very seriously ill in the ICUs," Dr. Deborah Birx said.

Spring breakers did not appear to be heeding warnings to self-isolate. In Florida and Alabama, college kids have taken to the beaches and bars, more concerned over losing funds and fun because of the outbreak than their health.

At time of writing, there are about 9,000 coronavirus cases in the US, and deaths are expected to breach the 150 mark.