Earlier today, Maricopa County Community College (MCCCD) employees received an email message from Interim Chancellor Steven Gonzales alerting them that a MCCCD student had tested positive for COVID-19.

The message revealed little about the student, other than they had been traveling during Spring Break and had not been on campus since their return.

Even though it appears that the effects of COVID-19 may be more severe among older people, young people should still be diligent to avoid the virus.

According to statistics from Feb. 12 – Mar. 16, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), claims that among 2,449 patients in the United States, with known age, 29% were aged 20–44 years.  Furthermore, the report states that among 508 patients known to have been hospitalized in the U.S., 20% were aged 20–44 years.

In a Mar. 19 article for The Verge, Justine Calma and Loren Grush reported that Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases warned younger people to take the pandemic seriously since they could spread the virus even if they’re not feeling any symptoms.

“Don’t get the attitude, ‘Well, I’m young, I’m invulnerable,’” Fauci said at a Mar. 17 briefing.  “You don’t want to put your loved ones at risk, particularly the ones who are elderly and the ones who have compromised conditions. We can’t do this without the young people cooperating. Please cooperate with us.”