October 9, 2020

Transmission Dynamics by Age Group in COVID-19 Hotspot Counties — United States, April–September 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

Keywords (Tags): transmission

• Among the 767 US hotspot counties identified by the CDC during June and July 2020, early increases in the percent positivity for SARS-CoV-2 among people under age 24 years were followed by several weeks of increasing percent positivity in those older than age 25. The authors note that these findings corroborate regional patterns in the southern United States and provide evidence that among young adults, those aged 18–24 years demonstrate the earliest increases in percent positivity. The authors conclude that these findings highlight the importance of reducing transmission from younger populations to those at highest risk for severe illness or death and emphasize the need for health care preparedness in counties with high percent positivity rates among younger people.

Oster et al. (Oct 9, 2020). Transmission Dynamics by Age Group in COVID-19 Hotspot Counties — United States, April–September 2020. MMWR.  https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6941e1