Second wave in West Bengal: Youngsters soft target this time

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One of the things that has set the second COVID wave apart from the first one in Bengal is the high share of the young patients in this run of the virus. Those between 20 and 44 years comprise as much as 48% of the fresh infections in the state, which is a dramatic rise from the mere 15% in the same age group in the first phase.

Analysis of the COVID data issued by the state government throws up this fact.

The data reveals that in January 2021 the rate of infection those in the 20-44-year age group constituted 35.5% of the total infections that month. On the other hand, the rate of infection above 45-60-year age group was 29.5%.

The share of the younger people rose in the following months. In February, the 20-44-year age group accounted for 37% of the new infections. Though it crept down to 36.5% in March it stood at record 48% till April 15.

The point to note here, doctors say, is that the rise is after taking into account the fresh cases only in a fortnight and by the month ends, the share might go up even higher.

Reports have put the number of people vaccinated at least once is 84-85 lakh and the number of those who got both the shots was about 30 lakh in Bengal.

“Only some people including health workers, policemen, and emergency sector workers might get the vaccine. It will take the rest of the people a long time to get both the shots. These people are susceptible to the infection and the data only points to the ground reality,” said Sabyasachi Saha, a doctor from state-run Bangur Institute of Neurosciences.

“This is a worsening situation and we are worried about this trend,” said Saha, who is himself under 45 years.

“We are attending more patients between 35 and 44 years. This time more and more young people are getting infected and they need emergency medical attention,” said Sanjib Banerjee, a doctor from Beliaghata Infection Disease hospital.