This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
Young People Not Entirely to Blame for Covid-19 Spike: Expert ¶
Published on August 4, 2020
Young people are not entirely to blame for the spike in Covid-19 cases, according to a medical expert. Dr. Jeanette Dawa, a medical epidemiologist, says the spread of the virus by young people may be due to a lack of awareness and respect for the disease.
“Maybe they just do not understand the severity of the disease and the significance of their actions,” Dr. Dawa argues.
Dr. Dawa points out that communication gaps on prevention measures may be contributing to the spread of the virus among young people. She notes that even with HIV, people know they should wear a condom but may not do so because they do not perceive themselves as being at risk.
According to the Health Ministry's situation reports, risk communication is one of the key challenges the government is facing in containing the virus. Other challenges include laboratory testing and inadequate financial support to sub-national levels for operations.
As the world fights a disease that has infected over 18 million and killed at least 698,000, Kenya continues to lag behind. The country has recorded 369 deaths, with 38 of them among young people between 20 and 39 years old.
Health officials are consistently imploring young people to wear masks and practice social distancing. However, local transmission continues to drive record daily outbreaks across the counties.
Research now indicates that seemingly healthy people can spread the virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a recent systematic review estimated that the proportion of truly asymptomatic cases ranges from six to 41 per cent, with a pooled estimate of 16 per cent.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US' top infectious disease expert, warns that by allowing yourself to get infected or not caring if you do get infected, you are propagating a pandemic. He notes that the virus can spread from person to person, eventually reaching someone who is vulnerable.
