Blame younger people for Fort Worth area’s COVID-19 surge? Here’s what the data shows
As Texas and Fort Worth grapple with a surge in coronavirus cases, public officials, including Mayor Betsy Price and Gov. Greg Abbott, have been quick to note the growing number of cases among young people who they say are not taking the virus seriously.
Data from Tarrant County Public Health confirms that 25- to 44-year-olds have led other age groups in positive cases since April. Cases among other age groups have trended downward since late May, but younger people have seen a spike in cases following Memorial Day weekend.
Brandon Bennett, Fort Worth’s health officer, told City Council members Tuesday that, anecdotally, that contact tracers were finding outbreaks associated with summertime gatherings. While some cases began to spring up when the state reopened restaurants and retail, others originated at graduation parties, Memorial Day celebrations and other gatherings, including recent protests, he said.
The increase is being driven by people in their 20s and 30s, Bennett speculated, because of constant messaging that older people are most at risk. In Tarrant County, 67% of deaths have been among those 65 and older.
“When you look at the mortality rates they’re generally not the 20- to 30-year-olds,” Bennett said. “So they are, from a social standpoint, they are having parties, they are getting together, they are going to the beach. They are driving the numbers higher.”
The Tarrant County data, which does not include cases from last week or this week, shows new positive cases among 25- to 44-year-olds hit a high the week of April 26 at more than 350. Cases among all age groups began to fall through the week of Memorial Day, but then cases among 15- to 24-year-olds and 25- to 44-year-olds spiked.
Price said Tuesday that “mixed messaging” has led to high positives rates overall, including confusion over whether to wear a mask. Earlier reports indicated younger people wouldn’t get sick, she said, but now 20- to 40-year-olds make up 50% of positive cases. It wasn’t clear if she was speaking about new, local cases or generally nationwide.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 18- to 49-year-olds have made up 50% of positive cases nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 2:56 PM.
