Growing Infection Rate In Young People Concerns Loudoun Officials

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Health Department has noticed an increase in the number of positive tests for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 among residents in the age groups of 10 to 19 years and 20 to 29 years, county health officials said Monday.

Since the beginning of the crisis, 31 percent of the positive cases in Loudoun County have been in people 29 or younger. Since June 1, 44 percent of the positive cases in the county have been in this age group. And over the past two weeks, since June 15, this percentage has increased to 57 percent, according to Loudoun health officials.

Over the past week alone, 150 people between the ages of 16 and 18 years old tested positive for the coronavirus, which represents 58 percent of all people in this age group since the pandemic began, health officials said.

The Loudoun County Health Department said it is taking a closer look at these cases to determine what may be causing the increase in coronavirus among the younger population.

“I suspect that many teens and young adults are increasingly participating in activities that involve larger gatherings of people, such as beach week and other celebrations, which has increased their exposure to others outside their families," Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend said Monday in a statement.

Loudoun health officials are encouraging parents, young adults and teens to remain vigilant in taking the following precautions:

• Avoid large gatherings of people and sharing living spaces with people outside your immediate household.
• Practice social distancing: stay 6 feet apart from others whenever possible.
• Wear a face covering over the nose and mouth while in public, particularly indoors.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds; use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water are not available.
• Stay home when sick, except when seeking medical care.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, including in your home.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces frequently.
• Cover coughs and sneezes when not wearing a face covering.

"Even healthy teenagers and young adults need to follow these steps,"Goodfriend said. "While younger people may recover from COVID-19, they may unknowingly spread the virus to more vulnerable members of our community who are at risk of serious illness.”