How serious is COVID-19?

Effects of COVID-19

COVID-19 generally causes mild illness, especially in children and young adults. Most people recover from it without special medical treatment. About 1 in every 5 people affected with COVID-19 need hospital care. However, in sever cases, complications can occur, leading to:

• Pneumonia
• Organ failure
• Death

Since COVID-19 is a newly discovered disease, it is difficult to have an accurate estimate about mortality rate. However, recent studies suggest a mortality rate between 1.4 to 3.4%.

Most vulnerable or high-risk groups

• Elderly people
• People with compromised immune system
• People with chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart, blood, lung or kidney disease etc.)
• Those who have recently travelled to a place affected with the disease outbreak

References:

1. WHO: Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)
2. healthline: Coronavirus Incubation Period
3. WebMD: New China Report Sets COVID-19 Death Rate at 1.4%
4. Mayo Clinic: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
5. Coronavirus Resource Center - Harvard Health

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