More young people test positive for COVID-19

Young people eager to get back to their normal lives may be responsible for rising COVID-19 cases.

Local doctors told Action News Jax more young people are testing positive for the virus. A majority are asymptomatic, which means they may not show symptoms and spread the virus without realizing it.

“What’s scary about this spread is we saw children all the way down from 10 years and younger are also able to spread the disease,” Action News Jax Medical Expert Dr. Michelle Aquino said.

A new study from South Korea found older children spread COVID-19 just as easily as adults. The report states, “Children younger than 10 transmit to others much less often than adults do, but the risk is not zero. And those between the ages of 10 and 19 can spread the virus at least as well as adults do.”

Dr. Aquino said this information causes even more concern for the start of school.

“It’s just another issue we really have to take into mind when we’re thinking of reopening all of these schools and getting these kids in close contact with each other. How is that going to spread the disease? We don’t know but it’s definitely a concern,” Dr. Aquino said.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the following Northeast Florida counties reported COVID-19 cases from ages zero to 24 years old, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

• Baker: 49 cases, making up 20% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 42 years old.
• Bradford: 44 cases, making up 22% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 44 years old.
• Clay: 442 cases, making up 20% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 43 years old.
• Columbia: 225 cases, making up 15% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 43 years old.
• Duval: 3,846 cases, making up 22% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 36 years old.
• Nassau: 199 cases, making up 25% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 41 years old.
• Putnam: 294 cases, making up 29% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 36 years old.
• St. Johns: 728 cases, making up 28% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 40 years old.
• Union: 40 cases, making up 27% of its coronavirus population. The average age is 51 years old.

Cox Media Group