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Why are young people not taking coronavirus seriously? 3:04
(CNN) - They thought they were too young to worry about the coronavirus, and then tested positive.
Valerie Wilson, 34, and Fiona Lowenstein, 26, tell their millennial generation mates that they, too, should be aware of their health in the coronavirus pandemic as they recover from infection.
More than 50,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the United States, with more than 700 deaths, and the numbers are increasing. Early tests showed that people with chronic conditions and older people were at the highest risk for serious illness. But younger people also get sick and spread the disease.
Wilson, a travel expert, dismissed her symptoms when she first became ill, she told CNN's Erin Burnett. She was too tired and had a low fever, but she didn't give it much thought.
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Until he lost his sense of taste and smell entirely.
His doctor said it didn't look like he had the virus, but after developing a strong cough, he was back in the office, rushing in without an appointment.
"I just broke down crying and told them that I was really scared. Without hesitation, they tested me immediately, ”he said.
She has Lyme disease and an autoimmune disorder, and she said it was scary to know that such conditions can send people to the emergency room.
And while he says it's important for younger people to do their part and stay home to protect loved ones, he also cautioned that their own health could also be a concern.
“Young people need to understand that at the age of 30, I would say that there is a good part of us that have some kind of underlying condition, so we should all be aware that we might have something that makes us feel a little weaker than this virus, ”he said.
Lowenstein thought his role in the pandemic would be limited to being an ally for people at higher risk, he told CNN's Don Lemon. But on March 13, he started developing a fever.
He stayed at home until he got to the point where he could barely eat or speak because it was too much effort because of his shortness of breath. When she got to the doctor, she had to be hospitalized for two nights.
Although you feel better now, you have to be isolated until your virus test is negative.
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Statistics of serious illness and death of young adults from coronaviruses are more promising than several other populations, but recent reports show that they are still at risk.
A report released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that fewer, but still significant, numbers of youth in the United States were facing serious complications. According to the CDC, 20% of those hospitalized with the virus were between 20 and 44 years old.
On Wednesday, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, noted that there are "disturbing reports coming out of France and Italy of some young people becoming seriously and very seriously ill in ICUs."
And those who are most comfortable gathering at beaches, parks, and restaurants are likely to contribute to the spread of the virus.
Birx called on "the millennial generation, our greatest generation, our future generation" to practice social distancing and "really make sure that each and every one of you is protecting yourself."
- CNN's Amir Vera, Arman Azad and Minali Nigam contributed to this report.
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