Australians in Their 30s Without Risk Factors Battling CCP Virus in ICU

A woman in a mask is seen lining up at Centrelink in Bondi Junction on March 23, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Australians aged in their 30s without risk factors are battling the CCP virus in intensive care, prompting a wake-up call from health authorities.

There are 96 people in intensive care, with 35 on ventilators.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says some intensive care patients are in their 30s.

“This is not just an old person’s disease,” he said on Monday.

“This is something that can affect the whole of our population and that is why we need the whole of the population to continue to take this seriously.”

Professor Kelly said it was important to note the small cohort of young people had no additional risk factors.

“This is a disease which mostly is mild, but in some occasions, we have seen and will continue to see people with severe disease,” he said.

The deputy chief medical officer said increased cases meant a higher chance of younger people without vulnerability contracting a serious infection.

“This is a wake-up call for all of us,” Professor Kelly said.

There have been almost 5800 coronavirus diagnoses in Australia, with 40 deaths.