In Oklahoma COVID-19 cases are rising among 15- to 34-year-olds.
Dr. Jennifer Clark of Oklahoma State University’s Project ECHO says people in these age groups are often harbingers of increased cases overall.
“If we look at all of the outbreaks, all of our different waves, they are the canary in the coal mine. Depending on how steep that curve is typically a predictor of how steep our outbreak is going to be for the entirety of the population,” said Clark.
According to the state department of health, cases in these age groups have been rising since early June.
15- to 24-year-olds now count for between 20% and 25% of known cases, while 25- to 34-year-olds account for almost 20%.
There are 156 new cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. In Tulsa County, community transmission remains substantial, meaning there are over 50 cases per 100,000 people. Greater than 100 cases per 100,000 will upgrade the county from substantial to high.