The most comprehensive global data so far shows that people aged 60 to 80 and those who have chronic illnesses are at an increased risk of dying from Covid-19. Males also seem to be at an increased risk of infection, but this could be related to smoking
With the global spread of the virus, researchers, who inform medical and public health strategies, are working to find out who is most at risk of infection, severe illness and death.
In the face of rapid global spread of the virus, the World Health Organisation yesterday upped its classification of the outbreak to a pandemic. The number of infections, severe illness and deaths is higher among people who smoke and those with medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer and hypertension.
The SAMRC says it has become urgent to describe the epidemiology of Covid-19 in South Africa and to address diagnostic, therapeutic, host and viral factors that may facilitate transmission or protect against infection. A Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention research report published three months into the outbreak showed that the majority of cases were in people aged 30 to 79. This was based on data from the 72 314 cases diagnosed with Covid-19 by February 11 in China, and could be a reflection of how the virus functions in the population rather than social interaction.
People wear protective masks in a bus, as Ivory Coast has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Picture: Thierry Gouegnon/ReutersThe WHO-China report said mortality shot up with age, with the highest mortality recorded among people over 80 .
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