42% of those tested COVID-19 positive in India in the 21-40 age group

The first demographic distribution-based announcement on COVID-19 in India indicates that about 42% of those tested positive are in the 21-40 age group. The Union Ministry of Health said on April 4 that only 17% of those testing positive were over 60.

The Hindu reported that data from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control (CDC) said 29% of those affected were in the 20-44 age group and 32% were above 60.

India recorded 3374 cases and 77 deaths as on Sunday compared to the 2.79 lakh cases and 7,451 deaths in the United States.

Union Health Ministry sources but could not provide any specific analysis to the media. Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said most of those who succumbed to the disease were ‘aged.’ He also said they had comorbid conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Agarwal said 9% of those testing positive were below 20 years. Health experts said this was also an alarming rate.

The relatively high death rate in the 21-40 age group goes against the notion that those generally healthy and with a higher level of immunity would be less affected. But the economic condition, food availability, health status of the victims are yet to be ascertained and studied.

The death toll from the outbreak, according to data from State Health Departments, rose to 103 with Maharashtra reporting the maximum at 32. The most number of active cases were also reported from Maharashtra at 551, followed by Tamil Nadu with 476 and Delhi with 431 of the total 3,196 cases.