Cases of coronavirus continue to rise here in Texas, and people dying from the virus appear to be getting younger.

As younger people make their way through the pandemic, something they’re finding hard to avoid is socializing.

“I guess I didn’t take it quite seriously enough to wear a mask during this. I just assumed anybody that would’ve had it would’ve known about, but that’s not always the case,” said a local college student who contracted coronavirus at a house party.

Meanwhile other students feel their age is their advantage and how they live their life is their decision.

“I’m still not scared of it. If it’s a bunch of 20-year-olds that want to hang out with each other, they should be allowed to do that. I don’t think there’s really anything wrong with that,” said Baylor student Emma Starcher.

Right now people in their 20s seem to have the highest number of coronavirus cases.

In McLennan County 29% of the cases are people ages 20 to 29, about 24% in Bell County, and in Brazos County 35% of cases were also people in their 20s.

“Whether they were a young healthy 22-year-old, there’s still a risk. We can’t guarantee because of their age you will be free from any kind of risk,” said Kelly Crane with the Waco-McLennan Public Health District.

The health district says while people in their 20s can experience milder COVID-19 symptoms, they could be putting their loved ones at a deadly risk.

“This isn’t about being antisocial. This is about protecting all those people you care about,” said Crane.

In fact the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District reports the age of people dying from coronavirus has gotten younger and younger, killing people as young as their 40s.

The health district says people are more likely to contract coronavirus through someone they know rather than a complete stranger.

So the best advice when thinking of attending a party is to simply not go.

—KXXV