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Shoppers outside the Whole Foods Market at Columbus Circle in New York City.
Shoppers outside the Whole Foods Market at Columbus Circle in New York City.EPA
Men playing basketball at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Men playing basketball at Brooklyn Bridge Park.Paul Martinka
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The majority of New York City residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus are men between the ages of 18 and 49, according to newly released public health data.

Even though experts say the elderly are the hardest hit by the virus, just 46% of the city’s COVID-19 patients are over 50 while 54% are 18-49. The remaining 2% of cases are people age 5 to 17.

The demographics, from the city’s Health Department, were determined from an analysis of 3,954 positive cases on March 19.

By Friday, March 20, there were 5,151 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities.

Women are underrepresented in the city’s tally while men account for 59% of infected people.

Men are more than twice as likely as women to die from the pathogen, White House coronavirus expert, Dr. Deborah Birx, said Friday citing mortality rates from Italy.

In addition to the demographics, the Health Department released a graph showing the alarming strain on the city’s hospital system.

Emergency room visits for flu-symptoms and pneumonia were up 366% compared to the same period last year. Queens had the largest increase in ER activity, followed by Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx. 

“This is significant because as these numbers continue to rise there is growing concern about the city’s limited hospital and ICU bed capacity,” said Tomas Hoyos, CEO of the health and technology company Voro.com.

“New Yorkers who think they may have COVID-19 should follow Gov. Cuomo’s guidance about getting a telehealth consultation before leaving their homes and not walking into a doctor office or emergency room without calling beforehand.”

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