In recent days, there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in various parts of China, with young people showing more prominent symptoms, leading to a sense of urgency in addressing the situation among the youth. It is being referred to as a “youth front line” emergency. Discussions within the community indicate that many young individuals who have been infected with the novel coronavirus are experiencing severe aftereffects such as heart attacks, strokes, and sudden deaths, with a significant number of them being around the age of thirty.
Healthcare centers, doctors, internet influencers, and young COVID-19 patients from mainland China have been using social media platforms to warn about the resurgence of new variants of the virus affecting many people once again.
They point out that the current wave of the COVID-19 virus is different from previous ones, with many young individuals infected showcasing mild symptoms like slight coughing and fatigue, similar to a common cold, but which may impact their social interactions, work, and studies. Those with severe symptoms may experience high fever, difficulty breathing, body aches, and other complications.
Due to the high number of young people being infected in this wave, concerns have been raised about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on young individuals, with cases of sudden deaths due to complications like heart attacks and strokes drawing particular attention.
A post shared mid-August recounting the deaths of a father and grandfather due to COVID-19 infection garnered over two thousand views, with many sharing their own experiences of testing positive and losing loved ones, indicating that the phenomenon of young people dying suddenly is not uncommon.
One individual from Heilongjiang province mentioned that a colleague who had recently recovered from COVID-19 suddenly suffered a heart attack while playing table tennis and passed away.
Healthcare workers have also reported cases where doctors, like one from Zhejiang Children’s hospital, who had recovered from COVID-19 and went to play basketball, suddenly died. This underscores the misconception that healthcare professionals are immune or fully understand the risks associated with COVID-19.
Online commenters have shared stories of young individuals succumbing to COVID-19 aftereffects, such as a 14-year-old boy who passed away after turning negative and playing basketball, and a man’s client’s son in his twenties who passed away due to COVID-19 complications. These instances highlight the unpredictability and severity of the virus across different age groups.
Reports of unexpected deaths related to COVID-19 are not limited to mainland China, with cases like actor Liu Feng dying from a heart attack at age 25 after recovering from the virus and a fourth-grade elementary school girl from Hezhou, Guangxi dying suddenly from a fever-induced seizure after testing positive for COVID-19. These incidents are raising concerns about the long-term impacts of the virus on individuals of all ages.
Medical professionals are warning about the dangers of engaging in strenuous physical activities post-recovery from COVID-19, as evidenced by cases like the sudden death of a 17-year-old badminton player in Indonesia. It has become clear that individuals who have recuperated from the virus are still at risk of experiencing fatal complications even without engaging in intense physical exertion.
With numerous reports of individuals succumbing to sudden deaths after COVID-19 infection, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the lasting effects of the virus. Health experts stress the importance of rest and caution against resuming regular activities too quickly post-recovery to prevent further complications and fatalities.
The tragic accounts of individuals experiencing sudden deaths despite being young and seemingly healthy after contracting COVID-19 serve as a stark reminder of the virus’s unpredictable nature and the need for continued vigilance in managing its aftermath.