A prominent German doctor warned Saturday that young people may suffer greatly if they develop a new coronavirus (Covid-19), and some may need to stay in intensive care.
It is noteworthy that the new corona virus does not affect many people to a large extent, but it leads to infection with «Covid-19», a disease similar to pneumonia and can lead to the death of a large proportion of infected people.
The elderly, or those with health problems, are most affected by the global epidemic, but young people are not seriously immune to the disease.
Clemens Wendtner, head of the infectious diseases department at the German Hospital Schwabing, said that this appears in Italy, which is the country most affected by the outbreak, adding: “It is an emerging picture in Germany today.”
"The younger Covid-19 patients, who have symptoms of the disease, are in their early twenties," said Vindtner. In general, we see the entire age spectrum, regardless of whether they are in a regular ward or in intensive care. ”
Findtner treated the first people infected with HIV in Germany in late January.
He said, "Even the young patient is not immune to severe reaction." He pointed out that the men of politics and science initially underestimated the risk caused by the virus.
The World Health Organization has already appealed to young people to adhere to local restrictions on movement and wandering during the period of the Corona virus crisis, not only to protect the elderly they interact with, but also to protect themselves.
“You are not a supernatural person,” said WHO Director-General Tidros Adhanom Gebrysos last Friday. "This virus may make you stay in hospital for weeks, and it may kill you."
The great danger we face today is the number of cases not yet discovered globally. Vendentner believes that in Italy, there are more than 10 times more casualties than officially reported, 53,578 cases. This also explains the high death rate in Italy by more than 5%.
On the other hand, Vendtner believes that there are five times more people in Germany than recorded. Although the death rate is still less than 1%, it can rise significantly, as is the case in other countries.
However, Wendtner is still confident that the health care system in Germany can overcome the crisis. He said that these two weeks are to be used to define the areas of the epidemic and modernize equipment and workers, adding that "the wave is already escalating ... and we are preparing to face this scenario."
The doctor explained that young patients with lung damage, such as long-term smokers and asthma patients, are at a high risk of infection, and this applies to diabetics and high blood pressure.
He stressed that the scientific models indicate that the effects of the closure of schools, shops and restaurants in Germany will not appear for at least three weeks. It is also difficult to predict when the crisis will end.
He continued, "No one can seriously predict at this time how long the situation will last." He believes it will be realistic for several months.