On the increasing incidence of SARSCoV-2 in older adolescents and younger adults during the epidemic in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To estimate temporary changes in the inciden-ce of SARS-CoV-2-confirmed hospitalizations (by date of symptom onset) by age group during and after the national lockdown.

Materials and methods: For each age group g, we computed the proportion E(g) of individuals in that age group among all cases aged 10-59y during the early lock-down period (April 20-May 3, 2020), and the corresponding proportion L(g) during the late lockdown (May 18-31, 2020) and post-lockdown (June 15-28, 2020) periods and computed the prevalence ratio: PR(g)L(g)E(g).

Results: For the late lockdown and post-lockdown periods, the highest PR values were found in age groups 15-19y (late: PR1.69, 95CI 1.05,2.72; post-lockdown: PR2.05, 1.30,3.24) and 20-24y (late: PR1.43, 1.10,1.86; post-lockdown: PR1.49, 1.15,1.93). These estimates were higher in individuals 15-24y compared to those 30y.

Conclusions: Adolescents and younger adults had an increased relative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 during late lockdown and post-lockdown periods. The role of these age groups should be considered when implementing future pandemic response efforts.