Tirupati: Youth more vulnerable to Covid-19 than elderly

Tirupati: In a welcome development aged people are not getting infected much with the coronavirus compared to younger age groups.

In the country, more than 40 per cent of the cases are in the 20-40 years of age group, while above 60 years group accounts for less than 20 per cent cases.

Andhra Pradesh also no exception to this trend as about 45 per cent of cases is in 20-40 years group while it is about 9 per cent in above 60 years age group.

Similarly, in Chittoor district, out of 207 positive cases, 85 are in the 16-30 years bracket whereas another 64 are between 31-45 years.

In the age group of 46-60 years, there are 39 cases while those in the above 60 years bracket are only 8 persons and another 11 are below 15 years of age. Experienced doctors are attributing various factors for this trend. One opinion was that in India, the young population is more and naturally is at high risk of contracting the disease.

It is said that the median age in India is 27 which is much lower compared to several other countries due to which the fatality rates are also low in the country.

However, one doctor observed that it all depends on many factors. The number of samples tested in the particular age group, total number of positives tested in that particular age group and other details are required to make any analysis.

Chittoor DM&HO Dr M Penchalaiah said that as elders are more vulnerable to the infectious disease as most of them will have comorbid conditions, the awareness was more focussed on that age group.

More tests also need to be conducted in the age group of above 60 years. Since they are aware of the risks involved they took all precautions and were well protected in their homes. Compared to them youth are more negligent on the precautions and are having careless attitude.

Another view was that aged people were also well protected by their wards keeping in mind their safety. A woman vegetable vendor, who is in her early 60s commented that she was not allowed by her children to go out to sell vegetables for almost 40 days and offered to give whatever she wants which is a welcome sign witnessed during this lockdown period.