This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
Coronavirus: What We Know So Far ¶
As the world grapples with the novel coronavirus, there are still many unanswered questions about the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
According to a study published in The Lancet on March 31, the severity of COVID-19 increases with age, with a mortality rate of 6.4 percent among confirmed cases for those aged over 60.
However, this rate climbs higher the older patients are, with 13.4 percent of cases aged over 80 leading to death, against only 0.32 percent for those under 60.
Chronic illnesses can also raise the risk of severe COVID-19, with hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease being the most common underlying health problems, according to a report by Italy's National Institute of Health.
Published at: April 21, 2020
