Recent Increase in COVID-19 Cases Reported Among Adults Aged 18-22 Years - United States, May 31-September 5, 2020

Abstract

Although children and young adults are reportedly at lower risk for severe disease and death from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), than are persons in other age groups (1), younger persons can experience infection and subsequently transmit infection to those at higher risk for severe illness (2-4). Although at lower risk for severe disease, some young adults experience serious illness, and asymptomatic or mild cases can result in sequelae such as myocardial inflammation (5). In the United States, approximately 45% of persons aged 18-22 years were enrolled in colleges and universities in 2019 (6). As these institutions reopen, opportunities for infection increase; therefore, mitigation efforts and monitoring reports of COVID-19 cases among young adults are important. During August 2-September 5, weekly incidence of COVID-19 among persons aged 18-22 years rose by 55.1% nationally; across U.S. Census regions,* increases were greatest in the Northeast, where incidence increased 144.0%, and Midwest, where incidence increased 123.4%. During the same period, changes in testing volume for SARS-CoV-2 in this age group ranged from a 6.2% decline in the West to a 170.6% increase in the Northeast. In addition, the proportion of cases in this age group among non-Hispanic White (White) persons increased from 33.8% to 77.3% during May 31-September 5. Mitigation and preventive measures targeted to young adults can likely reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission among their contacts and communities. As colleges and universities resume operations, taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among young adults is critical (7).

FIGURE 1

Weekly COVID-19 incidence in case surveillance data, by age group — United States,^† May 31–September 5, 2020 Abbreviation: COVID-19 = coronavirus 2019. * From CDC COVID-19 case report surveillance systems. Case report surveillance systems record 76% of national aggregate case counts reported to CDC, based on an analysis of data reported during March15–August 15. ^† Includes cases in 50 states, District of Columbia, and four territories: Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

FIGURE 2

Total weekly SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test volume and percentage of weekly tests, by age group — United States,^† May 31–September 5, 2020 Abbreviation: COVID-19 = coronavirus 2019. * Percentage of weekly tests was calculated as number of tests within each age group divided by number of tests in all age groups. Specimen collection date or test order date was used for analysis. Tests volume data were obtained from COVID-19 electronic laboratory reporting data submitted by state health departments for 37 states and, when age was not available in state-submitted data, from data submitted directly by public health, commercial, and reference laboratories for 13 states and the District of Columbia. The data might not include results from all testing sites within a jurisdiction (e.g., point-of-care test sites) and therefore reflect the majority of, but not all, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests in the United States. ^† Includes tests conducted in 50 states and District of Columbia.

FIGURE 3

Weekly COVID-19 incidence in case surveillance data among persons aged 18–22 years, by race/ethnicity^, — United States,^¶ May 31–September 5, 2020. Abbreviation: COVID-19 = coronavirus 2019. * From CDC COVID-19 case report surveillance systems. Case report surveillance systems record 76% of national aggregate case counts reported to CDC, based on an analysis of data reported during March 15–August 15. ^† Race/ethnicity data were not reported for 2,476,317 (48.5%) case reports; these cases were excluded from this subgroup analysis. ^§ Race categories include persons of non-Hispanic ethnicity. ^¶ Includes cases in 50 states, District of Columbia, and four territories: Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.