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Cases go up, deaths go down

YOUNG PEOPLE INCREASE INFECTIONS

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has skyrocketed again in the United States. However, the death rate shows a downward trend, which could be explained with death confirmation delay, an improvement in treatments, or a mostly younger populace infected this time around.

Despite an 80 percent increase in positive cases in the past 14 days, deaths have seen a drop of just over 20 percent according to data compiled by The New York Times. “The death rate is always several weeks behind infections,” stated Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Fauci Speaks

The leading American epidemiologist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) declined to make an estimate on the number of deaths. Fauci limited himself to assuring that the situation can get much worse, with infection numbers reaching 40,000 to 100,000 new cases every 24 hours.

Fauci was a critic of what he believed was a disorderly reopening of the economy in some states. As a scientist, he pointed out that the reluctance of authorities to enforce the use of the masks as well as many Americans’ negligence to wear them has been disastrous.

The Youth’s Responsibility

The current death toll can be influenced by many factors such as young people going to bars or the beach upon reopening by certain states like Florida and Texas. The youth, who show a lower death rate, could be getting sick, but just not adding to the list of deceased. Deaths in the US are already at around 130,000. The new wave could be deadly depending on how responsible young people act.

“Young people must be aware that it’s not the time to do whatever you please, as we are facing a global pandemic. My concern is that the youth’s irresponsible behavior will persist into the winter time when the population stays indoors for prolonged periods and viruses like the flu pop up,” says Mark Cullen, a Stanford teacher.