COVID-19 affects all age groups, from children to seniors

Friday May 22, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC

by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News

While the initial thrust of COVID-19 public health advisories in British Columbia and indeed across Canada have been about protecting the health of seniors, of course no human body is immune to the new coronavirus.

Just as COVID-19 respects no geographical or national borders, likewise it does not differentiate between any human host. It invades where it can, using mucus membranes to gain access (including nose, mouth, eyes and in some cases even ears, and additionally can likely be transmitted sexually as well).

The difference in infection impacts among different age groups lies within factors of underlying health conditions. Older age lends to being a ‘health condition’ in that the body has endured more wear and tear over the years, including the immune system.

COVID age stats in BC:

There have been 2,479 cases of COVID-19 in BC as tallied to date (May 21) by the BC Centre for Disease Control.

Cases in children tally to 73 (or 2.9% of cases) — that’s seen as 47 in the age 10 to 19 age group, and 26 in children under the age of 10 years.

In terms of raw case count, people in the 50 to 59 year age group have seen the highest number of cases (477 or 19.2%), followed by the 30 to 39 year age group (418 or 16.8%), then the 40-49 age group (373 or 15.0 %), and then the 20 to 29 year age group (243 or 9.8%).

Highest case count & deaths seen among seniors:

In the senior population — which is considered at most risk for serious infection impacts and death due to the COVID-19 virus — the case count of 889 (or 35.9% of all infections) shows this breakdown:

• Age 60 to 69: 320
• Age 70 to 79: 236
• Age 80 to 89: 211
• Age 89+: 122

More than 80% of the 152 deaths so far in BC due to COVID-19 have been in the senior population, and most of those occurring among residents of long-term care homes or acute care facilities.

Affecting children with cardiovascular symptoms:

While children evidently appear to have a less severe experience with COVID-19 illness, the cardiovascular aspect of the disease does show up in children. A condition dubbed ‘COVID toes’ is one visible manifestation of the impact of the COVID-19 virus on small blood vessels in the body.

Last week Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry says she has advised physicians in BC to watch out for the vascular symptoms of COVID-19 in children and youth up to age 19 (symptoms which resemble a known viral-caused condition called Kowasaki which is usually seen in children under age five).

Continued COVID-19 outbreaks in long term care:

Active outbreaks of COVID-19 continue in long term care and acute care facilities in BC. Currently there are still 17 outbreaks (14 in long term care, three in acute care), but no new outbreaks in those types of facilities, said Dr Henry today.

In those facilities where the elderly and people with disabilities are cared for, 537 people have been affected (329 residents, 208 staff).