From the Centers for Disease Control:
FIGURE 2. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations,* intensive care unit (ICU) admissions,† and deaths,§ by age group — United States, February 12– March 16, 2020
* Hospitalization status missing or unknown for 1,514 cases.
† ICU status missing or unknown for 2,253 cases.
§ Illness outcome or death missing or unknown for 2,001 cases.
Perhaps the 20-40 year olds think it’ll be a lark to get COVID-19, but stays in the ICU are never pleasant, or so I gather from family members who’ve done so.
That said, there’s something else to bear in mind: for survivors of COVID-19, we have no idea, apparently and expectedly, of the long-term consequences of infection. It’s not unknown for pathogens to have long-term effects, even if the victim survives the acute phase. For example, measles can cripple your immune system:
The toll of measles on the immune system
Many of the deaths attributable to measles virus are caused by secondary infections because the virus infects and functionally impairs immune cells. Whether measles infection causes long-term damage to immune memory has been unclear. This question has become increasingly important given the resurgence in measles epidemics worldwide. Using a blood test called VirScan, Mina et al. comprehensively analyzed the antibody repertoire in children before and after natural infection with measles virus as well as in children before and after measles vaccination. They found that measles infection can greatly diminish previously acquired immune memory, potentially leaving individuals at risk for infection by other pathogens. These adverse effects on the immune system were not seen in vaccinated children. [“Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens,” Michael J. Mina, et al, Science]
Perhaps survivors of COVID-19 become sterile, have diminished cognitive capacities, or some other life-defining problem.
Treating COVID-19 as nothing more than a minor flu may be more costly than you youngsters – get off the lawn beach! – think.
