CDC: COVID-19 cases in college-aged youth up 55% over month

Weekly COVID-19 cases among college-aged youth increased 55% nationally between Aug. 2 and Sept. 5, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The increases were not solely attributable to increased testing, and were greatest in the Northeast (144%) and Midwest (123%).

“Approximately 71% of persons aged 18-22 years reside with a parent, nearly one half attend colleges and universities, and 33% live with a parent while enrolled,” the authors note. “To prevent cases on campuses and broader spread within communities, it is critically important for students, faculty, and staff members at colleges and universities to remain vigilant and take steps to reduce the risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in these settings.”

A second CDC report examines a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases at a North Carolina university after its campus opened to students, noting that student gatherings and congregate living settings on and off campus likely contributed to the rapid spread of COVID-19 on campus.