Study negates perception of second wave being more fatal for youngsters

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 18

A review of comparative analysis of positive cases during the first and the second Covid wave has rejected the perception that the younger generation is more affected during the second onslaught of the virus. The study in this regard was conducted by the Health Department.

Contrary to popular perception, data analysis among different age groups showed that the morality rate in the younger population during the second wave was not more than the first. Rather it dipped in the second wave.

The overall case fatality rate (CFR) in the district had declined in the second wave from 3.1 to 2.4. The mortality ratio among youngsters also declined during the second wave. The CFR dropped from 0.2 in the first wave to 0.1 in the second wave in the 15 to 24 years age group.

Similarly, it was 0.7 for the 25 to 39 years age group during the first wave, but it dropped to 0.4 during in the second wave.

Notably, the Health department conducted a detailed review of the Covid cases during the first wave from August to October 2020 and the second wave from March to May 2021.

The study was carried out to find any correlation with age groups and associated mortality and to verify the common belief that the second wave affected younger age group more than the first wave.

The analysis revealed that the trend of affected population was almost ‘similar’ during both the waves.

Dr Sumeet Singh, district epidemiologist, said, severity of cases among the younger population during the second wave was due to the fact that the number of positive patients was two-and-a-half to three times higher during March to May 2021.

When asked about the higher case count during the second wave, Dr Sumeet Singh, added, “Due to mutation, the virus is more infectious during the second wave. Therefore, the case count has been higher.”