CDC shows COVID-19 has high survival rate; doctor still wants to see precautions taken

A CDC update Wednesday says individuals are more likely to survive the coronavirus after contracting it. The health agency says if you have the virus between the ages of 0 to 70, you have a 99% survival rate. And if you’re over 70, the survival rate is nearly 95%.

While this CDC update is a relief for many, doctors are extremely worried, and an NCH Healthcare System doctor hopes you still take precautions.

“My first thoughts are, ‘This is what I thought all along,’” said Pam Pischner, the owner of Grouper and Chips.

Pischner says she’s glad the CDC released the percentages.

“It will make people not so fearful,” Pischner said. “Get over the fear.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis also tweeted about the update, saying people in the age groups of 0 to 19 have a 99.997% chance of survival if they contract COVID-19, the age group of 20 to 49 a 99.98% chance, 50 to 69 years old 99.5% and 70 years old and above a 94.6% chance.

MORE: CDC – COVID-19 Summary of Recent Changes

“Obviously people can tell you there are people who need to be careful with any sort of disease,” said William Wehunt. “Other than that, let’s live our lives and open up.”

While some think only certain people should take precautions, doctors say everyone needs to keep their guard up.

“I am absolutely terrified we’re going to become too lax with precautions,” said Dr. Benjamin Abo with NCH.

Abo says the numbers are promising, but it’s not the time to be careless.

“While I’m happy about some of the numbers, and I’m happy we are going in a certain direction, it doesn’t mean we can let our guard down,” Abo said. “Otherwise, we will be right back to where we started.”