Serious Covid-19 cases rising in younger people, European experts warn
Nearly half of severe cases of Covid-19 in Europe in recent weeks have been among younger age groups, as experts warn of a worrying rise in the number of new infections.
The latest figures from the European Centres for Disease Control (ECDC) show that cases of Covid-19 have been increasing across the continent over the last month with the greatest rise in those aged 15 to 49 – 67 per cent of new cases have been among this cohort.
While younger people are less likely to become seriously ill with the disease, 44 per cent of those who fell into the severe disease category in the last month are in this younger age group, Dr Andrea Ammon, director of the ECDC, told a press briefing.
“And the other concern is that the increasing transmission in this age group may also go over to the more vulnerable older age groups in our population,” she said.
Transmission is increasing across Europe with 12 countries, including the UK, Ireland and France, classed as at moderate risk of disease spread. Seven countries, including Spain and Czechia, are classed as at high risk of spread.
Admissions to hospital and intensive care have increased in several countries but the number of deaths has not risen.
An increase in testing is one of the reasons for the rise in cases but does not explain it entirely, said Dr Ammon.
Since August there has been an increase in the number of positive tests and that means that transmission is increasing, she said.
“That for us is the alarming part,” she said.
Despite the well-documented problems with its testing system in recent weeks the UK has one of the highest testing rates in Europe – testing more than 2,000 people per 100,000 of the population. This compares to Spain and France which are testing between 1,000 and 1,999.
Stella Kyriakides, European Union commissioner for health and food safety, said the new figures from the ECDC showed that countries must not lower their guard. “It is abundantly clear that this crisis is not behind us… This might be our last chance to prevent a repeat of last spring,” she said.
In the absence of a vaccine countries are being urged to rapidly identify cases, ensure people are tested and quarantine high-risk contacts.
Dr Ammon said: “It is also everyone's responsibility to maintain the necessary personal protective measures such as physical distancing, hand hygiene and staying at home when feeling ill. The pandemic is far from over and we must not drop our guard.”
Ms Kyriakides said that with a vaccine months away citizens were the “best line of defence” against Covid-19.
She said that European citizens must adhere to measures such as social distancing and wearing face masks.
“Our self discipline to adhere to measures will determine the next month. We must prevent a situation where governments feel they have no choice but to impose generalised lockdowns.
"This will be detrimental to our mental health, detrimental to our economies, detrimental to the well being and education of our children, detrimental to our working and daily lives,” she said.
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