Infection rate shift to younger people

THE recent surge in cases of coronavirus in Scotland is mainly down to young people.

Dr Gregor Smith, Scotland’s acting chief medical officer, said there had been a ‘remarkable shift’ in the age of people catching the virus.

While it was more common in older people when it first spread to Scotland and during lockdown, it is now predominantly prevalent among people aged 18-3 .

Dr Smith said: ‘What we are certainly seeing is there has been a shift, quite a remarkable shift, in the demographic of those who are testing positive over recent weeks.

‘There is a much greater volume of people, particularly in the age group of 18-3 , who are testing positive compared to before.

The positive rate – the proportion of people who are testing positive who have a test within that age group – has also increased quite substantially.’

While there has been a big surge in positive coronavirus tests, there has not been the same level of increase in patients in hospital and intensive care.

Nicola Sturgeon said this may partly reflect the fact that younger people make up a higher percentage of positive cases and ‘although they can get seriously ill, they are less likely to do so’.

She warned that if transmission takes hold again, even if it starts in the younger, healthier part of the population, ‘it won’t necessarily stay in that part of the population, it will eventually seep into older and more vulnerable groups’.

She added: ‘Some young people will infect their older friends or relatives.’

The First Minister said there had been a ‘very distinct shift’ since March, April and May, when it was predominantly older people who tested positive – but more younger people are now accessing tests.

She added: ‘Anecdotally... younger people are tending to interact more and maybe get back to more normality than perhaps older members of the population, so they are more exposed to the virus and more likely to pass it on.’