Warning to young adults as research shows they have highest infection rates

YOUNG adults were today advised to maintain social distancing after the biggest-ever study of coronavirus in England found they had the highest infection rates.

The research into the spread of the virus in the community, by Imperial College London, also found that children were more likely to be infected than adults aged 44 and older.

Almost 70 per cent of people who tested positive for Covid-19 had no symptoms on the day of the test or the preceding seven days, the study revealed. London was no worse hit than the rest of the country when age, ethnicity and whether the person was a key worker were removed as factors.

The R reproduction rate — which shows how many people an infected carrier infects — was 0.57, lower than thought and halving every 8.6 days, as the country emerged from lockdown at the end of May.

The nationwide study, which ran between May 1 and June 1, involved more than 120,000 children and adults being sent throat and nasal swab kits at home. Adults aged 18 to 24 had the highest infection rates — probably because they were the least likely group to limit their social contacts.

The 25 to 34 age group was second highest, followed by children aged five to 17, who were more likely to be infected than adults over 44. The researchers said this “indicated that children are similarly susceptible to being infected”. Other studies have shown children are far less likely to become ill or seriously ill. Experts said the study showed the importance of younger adults observing social-distancing rules, especially to protect any vulnerable members of their family.

A total of 159 positive tests were found from 120,610 swabs, giving an average prevalence of Covid of 0.13 per cent, or 13 infected people per 10,000.

Symptoms strongly associated with a positive test were nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhoea, blocked nose and loss of smell and taste, and severe fatigue. Recent contact with somebody known

to have Covid increased the risk of contracting the virus by 24 times. Care home workers were 7.7 times more likely to contract coronavirus, and health workers 5.2 times.

The researchers “found no strong evidence for geographical variability” in infections. The study, known as REACT-1, aimed to plug the “critical knowledge gap” in the lack of information about the spread and incidence of coronavirus outside hospitals and care homes. The findings mean there were an estimated 74,000 infections in England in May.