Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth in the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector in South Africa

While many believe that exposure to COVID-19 affects mostly the elderly, youth are not impervious to the novel coronavirus. However, young people in many countries have been complacent about the COVID-19 warnings, due to communication about the elderly being more susceptible (UNFPA, 2020a). Young people exposed to COVID-19 are as likely as old people to become infected and contagious. The youth need to follow national guidelines for screening, testing, containment practices and social distancing (UNFPA, 2020b). In addition, young people's formal education, where they have access to it, has been severely impacted by the pandemic (UNFPA, 2020b).