Few COVID-19 cases from public schools so far, but young adults are being infected at increasing rates in Pa. and N.J.

Few coronavirus cases have been seen since the school year began at K-12 schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, health officials said Friday, but the infection rate is rising among college-age adults in both states.

New cases are flat or declining for most age groups in New Jersey but are rising in people 19 to 24. Young adults make up a third of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s new September cases, and they now account for nearly 70% of all new cases in north-central Pennsylvania, where Pennsylvania State University is located, officials said.

While there have been some cases at elementary, middle, and high schools that have reopened or are offering a combination of in-person and remote instruction, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said the most “significant increases” statewide are among people ages 19 to 24.

And no reported cases have been linked to in-school transmission since New Jersey public schools opened this week, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, though some students and staff have been infected through activity unrelated to school attendance. Read More