‘Concerning Pattern’ As NJ COVID-19 Cases Rise Among Young People

NEW JERSEY – Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli announced “another concerning pattern” during a coronavirus update on Tuesday: an increase in cases among young people.

In April, individuals between 18 and 29 years old made up 12 percent of COVID-19 cases in the state. Now, in June, that number has risen to make up 22 percent of cases.

More than 640 residents between the ages of 18 and 29 have been hospitalized due to complications from this virus, Persichilli said. There have been more than 50 deaths among the age group.

“People of any age can get severe illness from COVID-19,” the health commissioner said.

The announcement comes as the number of cases rose to 169,734, and 12,949 people have died. The outbreak has been largely contained in New Jersey even as much of the state has reopened. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The update was also preceded by a weekend of non-socially distant gatherings across the state, including large crowds at bars in Belmar to Morristown that have recently reopened.

Murphy said the rate of transmission is low across the state, but New Jersey has seen it "creep up" in some counties in South Jersey and at the Shore. Crowding at bars may be contributing to this trend, and the governor said he will take action against establishments that are not following social distancing guidelines.

“While we know that some of this increase can be attributed to an increase in access to testing, we are still concerned about this trend,” said Persichilli. “We are especially concerned after gatherings we saw over the weekend at the Jersey Shore, and another bar in Northern New Jersey.

"Individuals were packed together at these locations, which raises the risk of spreading COVID-19 to one another, and then onto a wider community.”

Florida, Texas and South Carolina have also seen more individuals under age of 30 testing positive. Many of the young individuals are asymptomatic and unaware that they are contributing to the spread of the virus, which could lead to the virus spreading rapidly to more vulnerable populations, according to Persichilli.

The health commissioner also reported that there are no new cases of Multi System Inflammatory Syndrome, a coronavirus-associated syndrome that affects children. The total cases of the syndrome remain at 44 in the state, affecting children from 1-18. 6 children have been hospitalized; there have been no deaths associated with the syndrome in New Jersey.

“We need all residents to take precautions, not to just protect themselves, but to protect all of us,” said Persichilli. “We all have a responsibility to our families, to our loved ones and our community.”