Covid-19 cases in Brazil increase sixfold among young people; Fiocruz sees new trend

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Covid-19 Observatory of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) said this Friday, March 26, that the most recent data point to an increase in cases among young adults.

The institution says that one of the effects of this change is contributing to maintaining the critical scenario in the occupancy of hospital beds.

The greater presence of young people admitted to hospitals is reported by health professionals from different regions. Using data on severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS), which includes mostly cases of Covid-19, the institution said it had observed growth in cases involving young adults even more pronounced than the overall average.

When comparing the first epidemiological week of the year with the tenth week (March 7 to 13), the number of cases increased by 316%. But among the age groups 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59, the growth was 565%, 626%, and 525%, respectively. That is, more than sixfold. In the case of deaths, the increase is less serious but still present. The total increase in deaths was 223%, but in the 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59 age groups, the increase was 353%, 419%, and 317%, respectively.

The experts explain that one of the effects of the pandemic’s turn on younger people is linked to the occupancy of beds. “Because it is a population with fewer comorbidities – and, therefore, with slower evolution of severe and fatal cases, there is often a longer length of stay in intensive care. In fact, the average age of hospitalized patients has been decreasing progressively. The average age of cases in week 1 of 2021 was 62, and the average age of deaths was 71. The data show that in epidemiological week 10, the age numbers were 58 for new cases and 66 for deaths.”

The observatory continues to monitor the occupancy rate of ICU beds in the country. This week, the diagnosis shows that 24 states and the Federal District have occupancy rates equal to or higher than 80% and 17 have rates higher than 90%. With 79% and 64% occupancy, respectively, only Amazonas and Roraima are outside the critical level. Among the 27 state capitals, 19 have rates higher than 90%.

In the face of this scenario, the specialists reinforce the adoption of two groups of measures: 1) urgent measures, which involve the containment of the transmission rate through lockdown, accompanied by the expansion of bed availability and overcoming the lack of medicines and supplies; 2) mitigation measures, such as expanding the availability of masks and conducting campaigns to strengthen social distancing, to reduce the speed of propagation.

Source: Exame