Edina Mayor Says COVID-19 Cases Increasing Rapidly Among Youth, Urges Caution
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- COVID-19 cases are rising, but the average age of the patients continues to drop.
In Edina, for example, most of the people getting sick used to be about 57 years old. In the last two weeks, the average age dropped to around 19 years old.
Edina health officials say young people don't seem to be getting it from places like bars or restaurants.
Seventy-four percent of the 154 new cases in Edina since June 25 are in people under 25. WCCO asked brothers Patrick and Elias Wehr how people their age are socializing right now
"To be honest, kind of normally, I mean, past couple of months when it all began it was very uptight and everything, but … I don't think people are following it," Patrick said.
"People are tired of just staying inside and FaceTiming and doing all those Zoom calls," Elias said. "No one wants to do that, so people are getting out and socializing and doing gatherings like they used to."
Mayor Jim Hovland says contact tracing reveals that's exactly how young people are getting it.
"They're at house parties, they're at bonfires, on trips to the cabin, and they go out somewhere, and then organized sports," Hovland said.
The Edina School District says it is aware of about 20 student-athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week or so. Those athletes were in summer camps, many of which the district doesn't sponsor.
"Our football program is going everything we can to stay safe and unfortunately a few have tested positive," Edina High School football coach Jason Potts said.
The district says the source of the outbreak appears to be related to social activities, not the camps.
"I think it's going to be really difficult, but I think it is incumbent on parents to be having these conversations," Hovland said.
The Minnesota Department of Health says there are COVID-19 patients from outside of Edina who say they attended parties in Edina.