Coronavirus: It’s not just the old who get sick, but young people too

Coronavirus: It’s not just the old who get sick, but young people too

Older people remain most at risk of dying as the new coronavirus continues its rampage around the globe , but they're far from the only ones vulnerable.. In China, 80 percent of deaths were among people in their 60s or older, and that general trend is playing out elsewhere.. While death rates fluctuate wildly early in an outbreak, Italy has reported more than 80 percent of deaths so far were among those 70 or older.. "the idea that this is purely a disease that causes death in older people we need to be very, very careful with," Dr Mike Ryan, the World Health Organization's emergencies chief, warned.. "Young people are not invincible," WHO's Maria Van Kerkhove added, saying more information is needed about the disease in all age groups.. In China, 40 people who required critical care had other chronic health problems.. And there, deaths were highest among people who had heart disease, diabetes or chronic lung diseases before they got COVID-19.. Other countries now are seeing how pre-pandemic health plays a role, and more such threats are likely to be discovered.. Italy reported that of the first nine people younger than 40 who died of COVID-19, seven were