As of March 23, 2020, New York City remains the epicenter for both the total number of COVID-19 cases and the number of new cases. The Daily Case Data Summary provided by the New York City Health Department provides some reliable information on the spread of the virus that should send a warning to young people throughout the United States.¹

There were a total of 13,119 patients who had been treated at NYC facilities. Of these, 6,035, or 46%, were between the ages of 18 and 44 years. Early reports coming out of China seemed to indicate that younger people were at a lower risk of needing treatment after being infected with COVID-19. This perception that COVID-19 was primarily an infection of older people may explain the scenes on national news outlets of thousands of college age students in mass congregations on beaches or in close social contact at bars and restaurants during spring break. Yet, the numbers coming in from New York City indicate that younger adults are at a significant risk for needing treatment if they become infected.

The best way to avoid becoming ill with COVID-19 is to limit exposure to people infected with the virus. Those infected with COVID-19 will be shedding virus to others before they are showing symptoms. It is important for everyone to be aware of the rules and restrictions of their local government and limit the spread of COVID-19 by obeying them.

Older people remember when they were your age and had a feeling of being almost invincible. They may also recall how that feeling emboldened them or some of their friends to engage in reckless behavior. Because the consequences can be so painful, the Bible is filled with many warnings. This indicates that God cares enough about us to alert us when danger is a certainty. Thus, we should take warnings seriously. The Bible doesn’t contain a specific warning about COVID-19, but given that 46% of patients being treated could be younger adults, one biblical warning seems fitting: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

References
1. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Daily Data Summary, March 23, 2020. NYC Health. Posted on www1.nyc.gov.

*Randy Guliuzza is ICR’s National Representative. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Minnesota, his Master of Public Health from Harvard University, and served in the U.S. Air Force as 28th Bomb Wing Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Guliuzza is also a registered Professional Engineer.