There are currently almost 250,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK, and a new study suggests that the majority of those cases are young Brits.
New data from Public Health England shows that Brits aged 17 to 29 are significantly more likely to have had the infection than older people.
The data, which was first shared by HSJ, shows that around 11% tested positive for antibodies in London in early April, while just 6% of those in their 60s tested positive.
A positive antibody test indicates that you’ve had the bug and recovered.
Speaking at a diagnostics conference, Mary Ramsay, head of immunology at Public Health England explained that while it appears that young Brits are most likely to catch the virus, the majority of those hospitalised with COVID-19 are elderly.
She said: “It’s the exact opposite to what we see for disease.
“We see disease in older adults predominantly, whereas with infection we appear to be seeing it in younger adults.
“It’s a very interesting finding and quite possibly unexpected. I think even the modellers found it unexpected that the infection rates appear to be higher in the young adults.”
According to experts, young Brits may be more likely to catch the virus as they’re most likely to ignore social distancing measures.
Professor Paul Hunter, Professor of Medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: “Young people are the most likely to socialise and the least likely to stick to social distancing guidelines.
“So from that viewpoint, it’s not that surprising.
“What this shows is that people in their 20s are more likely to pick up the virus, but it doesn’t necessarily prove they are passing it on.
“Although you can assume they are more likely to mix with people of their own age so that may be the likely source of infection.
“This early data is describing the reality of what is happening on the ground.
“In London it shows by April 12 around 11 per cent of 17 to 29 year olds had the infection, compared to seven per cent of those aged 60 to 70 – so a difference of more than half.”
