Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 25, 2021

Continued Proportional Age Shift of Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Incidence over Time to Children and Young Adults: Washington State March—August 2020

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  • The age distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington State shifted from older age groups to young adults and children between March and August 2020, according to a longitudinal cohort analysis. From March to April, there was a 10% decline in cases among those age 60 years and older and a 20% increase among those age 0-19 and 20-39 years. By August, cases among people under 40 comprised an average of 60% of total cases, with ages 0-19 accounting for 19% of cases and ages 20-39 accounting for 42% of cases. Test positivity during this time shifted towards younger age groups despite less testing in these age groups and expanded testing among older age groups. [EDITORIAL NOTE: A pre-print version of this manuscript was summarized in this report on November 17, 2020.]

Malmgren et al. (Mar 24, 2021). Continued Proportional Age Shift of Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Incidence over Time to Children and Young Adults: Washington State March—August 2020. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243042