Doctor warns young Australians to be on high alert for Covid symptoms after 20 to 29-year-olds in NSW become the MOST affected group
Young Australians are more affected by the Covid virus than ever before, with a NSW top doctor revealing the 20-29-year-old age range is causing her the greatest concern.
At a press conference on Friday NSW's deputy chief health officer Dr Marianne Gale said the largest number of new infections in NSW in the past two weeks were occurring in men and women in their 20s.
'With this Delta variant we are seeing a large number of younger adults being affected by Covid-19,' she said.
'In the last 14 days in 20-29-year-old age group, we have that being the biggest numbers.
'I want to encourage young adults in our community to please take the stay at home orders in the Greater Sydney area seriously, as seriously as you possibly can.'
The Delta variant has proved to be highly transmissible among younger people, with people in the 20-29-year-old age group showing the largest increases in NSW in the past 14 days
NSW Deputy chief health officer Dr Marianne Gale urged younger people to 'please take the stay-at-home orders in the greater Sydney area seriously, as seriously as you possibly can'
Gladys Berejiklian announced there were 390 new cases of community transmission at the update, with at least 60 of those have been infectious in the community
Unlike the first wave of the virus in Australia which disproportionately affected people over 60, the Indian delta variant has proven to be highly transmissible among younger people.
Of the 63 Covid cases currently in intensive care in NSW, four are in their 20s, six in their 30s and five in their 40s, Dr Gale said.
She said discussions were also ongoing with the Department of Education about higher infection rates in children.
'We look very closely at the infection rates in children,' she said.
'I know that the Children's Hospital network has a large number of children who they are supporting in the community, and for those who need hospitalisation, taking very good care of them in hospital.
'We are seeing more children affected by Covid this year compared to what we saw last year.'
Covid cases in intensive care in NSW currently number 63 , with four in their 20s, six in their 30s and five in their 40s, Dr Gale said
Ms Berejiklian said the large number of recent cases in NSW meant the trend would continue for at least the next few days
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced there were 390 new cases of community transmission at Friday's press conference, with at least 60 of those infectious in the community.
'I anticipate given the large number of cases we have had in the last few days this trend will continue for at least the next few days,' she said.
Ms Berejiklian said 100,000 'authorised workers aged between 16 and 39 were registered for vaccination next week'.
It was announced that an unvaccinated woman in her 40s died at her home in south-western Sydney, while a man in his late 90s also passed away in the Hunter area.
The elderly man was vaccinated but receiving palliative care at the time of his death.