Latest CDC Findings on COVID-19

July 27, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new findings about COVID-19 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs) issued on Friday. In a July 24 MMWR, CDC said a multistate telephone survey of symptomatic adults who had a positive outpatient COVID-19 test result found that 35% had not returned to their usual state of health when interviewed two to three weeks after testing. Among persons aged 18-34 years with no chronic medical conditions, one in five had not returned to their usual state of health. COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness, even among young adults without underlying chronic medical conditions.

In a separate July 24 MMWR, CDC indicates older adults and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and obesity are at higher risk for severe COVID-19-associated illness. CDC estimates that the prevalence of any of the five underlying medical conditions is 47.2% among 3,142 U.S. counties, with a higher prevalence in more rural counties.