KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Health authorities revealed today that two age groups in Malaysia — ages 26 to 30, and 56 to 60 — had the largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah attributed the high infection rate among young adults to students returning from overseas or young people who violate the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) by socialising outside.
“As for the second age group, those who always go outside to buy things; they may have been infected when they’re outside their homes,” Dr Noor Hisham told a press conference.
Among the 43 Covid-19 patients who succumbed to the disease in Malaysia as of today, the median age is 60.
Although those aged above 60 and people with underlying health conditions have a higher risk of developing severe disease and death from Covid-19, according to the World Health Organization, some countries have reported more confirmed cases among younger people.
The Guardian reported today that people in their 20s in Australia had the biggest share of confirmed coronavirus cases at 11.3 per cent for people aged 25 to 29, which experts attributed to the group most likely to travel or party with travellers coming home. Those aged 80 and older, however, comprised 47 per cent of coronavirus-related deaths, even though they accounted for only 2.7 per cent of confirmed cases.
The Washington Post reported that according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis of US coronavirus cases from February 12 to March 16, 38 per cent of hospitalised patients were below the age of 55.
French authorities also reportedly said earlier this month that half of patients treated in intensive care units (ICU) in Paris were below the age of 65. In the Netherlands, half of ICU patients were aged below 50.
