Are concerns of spreading COVID-19 during All-Star weekend being overblown? Health experts say no

ATLANTA — The chance of COVID-19 spreading during the All-Star game weekend in Atlanta is very real.

But medical experts told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson that it won’t be the young people partying who have to suffer the virus’ worst symptoms.

“The virus is not getting tired of infecting people,” said Dr. Felipe Lobelo with Kaiser Permanente Georgia. “They are increasing the risk of their relatives and their family members that that are older and that have higher risk of getting severe disease.”

People between the ages of 18-29 continue to have the most COVID-19 infections in Georgia -- by a lot.

Georgians who are 80 and over make up the fewest cases among adults in Georgia, but the most deaths.

“We’ve seen this movie before. We know that when we had lots of parties, family gatherings and gatherings in households around the holidays, there was an uptick in cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” Lobelo said.

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Johnson analyzed the latest state data Friday that shows young adults make up 22% of all Georgia COVID-19 cases and just 0.6% of Georgia deaths.

Those 80 and over make up just 3.4% of Georgia cases, but 38% of deaths.

“A fair amount of infection can be asymptomatic, and you can bring the virus to your household, to your loved one. And that is really what’s fueling this pandemic,” Lobelo said.

“Now we’re even closer to being at the end of this pandemic. I mean, we can practically reach out and grab it,” said Dr. Michael Crupain, senior vice president of clinical operations for Sharecare in Atlanta.

He says if the promise of vaccines can’t keep people away from gatherings, he hopes they will stay away from their vulnerable relatives.

“Actually quarantine for 10 days, you know? Stay away from those people who are more vulnerable because that’ll protect everyone,” Crupain said.

Grocery store, meatpacking workers say food supply threatened if they’re not vaccinated soon Meatpacking and grocery store workers say we could see empty shelves again if they’re not protected from coronavirus.

Cox Media Group