The director general of World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned young people that they are not “invincible” from the threat of coronavirus. 

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the stern warning on Friday as worldwide data showed that patients under age 50 make up a significant portion of hospitalisations.

“I have a message for young people: You are not invincible, this virus could put you in hospital for weeks or even kill you.

“Even if you don’t get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else.”

The remarks by the WHO boss come amid reports that young people in several countries are not taking the health warnings seriously enough.

More than 11,000 people have died from coronavirus (Covid-19) worldwide. There have been more than 250,000 people test positive for coronavirus.

The centre of the pandemic is currently in Europe and in Italy it has killed more people than any other country. The death toll rose by a further 627 on Friday, to reach a total of 4,032.