 And the director of the Pan-American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa Atien, is urging young people to take their role in the prevention of COVID-19 seriously. Dr. Atien notes that for much of the pandemic, hospitals in the Americas were filled with elderly COVID-19 patients, many of whom had pre-existing conditions that made them more susceptible to severe disease. These trends created a false sense of security among the younger populations who, while fearful of the virus, were not concerned about severe disease. However, increasingly intensive care units across our region are now filled not only with elderly patients, but also with younger people. Over the last few months, hospitalization rates among those under 39 years increased by more than 70% in Chile. In Brazil, the highest jumps in hospitalizations have been among people in their 40s. In some areas of the United States, more people in their 20s are now being hospitalized for COVID-19 than people in their 70s. Adults of all ages, including young people, are becoming seriously ill and many of them are dying. In Brazil, mortality rates have doubled among those younger than 39. It has quadrupled among those in their 40s and tripled for those in their 50s between December 2020 and March 2021. This is tragic and the consequences are dire for our families, our societies and our future. Director of Power Hall, Dr. Carissa Atn.