Many young adults have this false sense of immortality that has extended in the face of the coronavirus. We have all seen this with the countless spring breakers in Florida that claimed they didn’t care if they became infected with the virus. Comments that many have since apologized for as many of them are now infected themselves. 

Why are some young adults not taking this seriously?

Some young adults truly believe that nothing bad will ever happen to them, that their youth somehow makes them less susceptible to illness, disease, and accidents that can happen to other people. According to Dr. Gary L. Wenk, “They are young, their lives stretch out before them to the horizon and they feel immortal. I blame the feelings of immortality of teenagers on the fact that their frontal lobes are not fully working.”

“Only older adults can become severely sick”

Some of the confusion about who can and can’t become severely sick is because we were initially told that the main group of people at risk were older adults and people with underlying conditions. However, as the virus has progressed across the U.S., we have seen cases of young adults and children becoming sick and even passing away. This changes everything we once thought about who’s “safe”. And has lead to many college students partying in close proximity in Florida. 

A 25-year-old male named Jack Allard, who is a lacrosse player is on ventilators fighting for his life against the coronavirus. This case is very significant as Jack’s parents have stated that he is a very healthy young man who is even an athlete. So the idea that he has become severely ill over the virus puts all the information we once thought true in question. 

Millennials with COVID-19

Younger people are also getting sick and spreading the illness, many of whom are asymptomatic. Valerie Wilson, 34, and Fiona Lowenstein, 26, are both currently sick with the virus. Wilson said, “Young people need to understand that by the age of 30, I’d say there’s a good portion of us that do have some sort of underlying condition so we all need to be aware that we could have something that makes us a little bit weaker to this virus.” She has Lyme disease and an autoimmune disorder. 

Lowenstein said her symptoms included trouble speaking and eating because of how difficult it became for her to breathe. Then she was hospitalized for two nights after seeing her doctor. Lowenstein is recovering but must remain in self-quarantine for some time. 

Severe complications in young adults

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that “a smaller — but still significant — number of young people in the US faced serious complications. Twenty percent of those hospitalized with the virus, according to the CDC, was between 20 and 44 years old.”

The hospitals are already overwhelmed with the normally expected heart attacks and flu visits, so the massive influx of COVID-19 patients is causing concern over the ability to provide ventilators. People who have very mild symptoms are urged to stay home as the hospitals are struggling to take of critically ill patients. 

Also, patients who may not be sick with COVID-19 could become sick by coming in contact with sick patients at the hospital. So, if you are only experiencing mild symptoms, you put yourself in a more life-threatening position but going there unnecessarily. However, if you start experiencing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, that may be time to go to the hospital. 

Safer at home

While medical professionals are essential workers during this crisis, they strongly encourage everyone who is not an essential worker to stay home. Being in groups under 10 people in states like New York has helped in slightly lowering the spread. 

Teenagers and young adults across the globe need to pay attention to the news if they haven’t already. This virus is deadly and dangerous and young adults can become very sick. If a healthy 25-year-old lacrosse player can become severely affected and put on a ventilator over the coronavirus, all of us need to re-evaluate how seriously we take this.