Which Age Group Spreads COVID-19 The Most?

A new study in Science looked at which age group is most responsible for spreading COVID-19, based on information on 10 million people in the United States, and found that those aged 20 to 49 are spreading the virus more than any other age group.

Specifically, 72.2 percent of COVID-19 infections came from people in this age group, 34 percent from people aged 20 to 34 and 38.2 percent from 35 to 49. Less than five percent came from children aged zero to nine, and less than 10 percent resulted from children aged 10 to 19. Mass vaccines to people aged 20 to 49 could help slow the spread of the virus, stop a resurgence, and limit the number of deaths due to COVID-19.

When COVID-19 started spreading in the United States, the age group most infected with the virus was older adults. From June to August 2020, about 20 percent of people aged 20 to 29 tested positive for the virus. In the southern part of the country, there was an increase in positive test results in people aged 20 to 39, which was followed by a rise in infections in people aged 60 and older, according to the CDC.

You can do many things to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself and others. The most dangerous person is one who's infected and not showing any symptoms because they think they aren't sick. Assume you can spread the virus no matter how you feel. 

The first thing you should be doing is staying home unless it's necessary to go out. When you do go out, wear a mask over your nose and mouth and social distance — remain at least six feet apart from everyone else. Avoid crowds because the more people you come in contact with, the more likely you are to come in contact with the virus. Crowded places include weddings, restaurants, cinemas, and gyms. 

Wash your hands or use a sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol throughout the day — for example, before cooking or eating, after sneezing or coughing or blowing your nose, after using the bathroom, before you go out, and after you leave a public place. Avoid touching your face. Clean, sanitize, and disinfect your home regularly. Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. 

Keep an eye on your health, and if you have COVID-19 symptoms, use the CDC's self-checker to see what your next steps should be. Seek emergency medical attention if you have difficulty breathing (via the CDC).