Infection with the novel coronavirus can lead to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This can cause mild to severe symptoms. In some people, it leads to life threatening complications.
This article looks at the mortality rates of COVID-19 and the groups with the highest risk. It also explores what the illness does to the body and how it compares with the flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Coronavirus data
All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub for the most recent information on COVID-19.

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COVID-19 can be deadly for some people. Older adults and people with existing health conditions are
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
Roughly
Older people may develop more severe symptoms, as may people with ongoing health conditions, such as:
Some severe COVID-19 symptoms include difficulty breathing and a feeling of pressure in the chest.
COVID-19 can also cause serious and sometimes fatal
- pneumonia
- arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat
- damage to organs
- multiple organ failure
- sepsis
- shock
- respiratory distress syndrome
- heart failure
The novel coronavirus enters the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus then travels down toward the lungs and inflames the lining of the airways.
This inflammation irritates the surrounding nerves, causing a cough.
The virus can then spread to the lungs and cause infection and damage, which can reduce the oxygen supply to the bloodstream.
If oxygen levels in the bloodstream decrease, the heart has to work harder to supply organs and the rest of the body with enough oxygen to function.
Meanwhile, the immune system is working to fight off the infection, and in doing so it can cause inflammation throughout the body.
This inflammation can cause blood pressure to drop, which also causes the heart to work harder to supply oxygen to the organs.
An infection in the lungs, or pneumonia, causes the lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid. This makes it more difficult to breathe.
Pneumonia can progress to lung failure, in which case the person may need a ventilator to help them breathe.
In people with existing damage to the heart or lungs, these complications can be life threatening.
Older adults may also have a higher risk of severe complications, due to less elasticity in lung tissue and less robust immune function.
The mortality rate of COVID-19 varies, depending on where a person is in the world, their age, and whether they have ongoing health problems.
Mortality rates of COVID-19 are usually higher among older populations.
The state of the local or national healthcare system may also affect mortality rates. If hospitals become overwhelmed with severe cases of COVID-19, they may not have the resources to cope. This can increase the number of fatalities.
It is important to note that the number of COVID-19 tests in a given area significantly influences the data concerning mortality. For example, an increase in the number of people who have tested positive for the virus, including those with very mild symptoms, will change the ratio between the number of COVID-19 cases and associated deaths.
The case-fatality ratio shows the proportion of deaths among people with confirmed COVID-19. Current reports show that in the United States, the case-fatality ratio is 5.9%.
This figure would decrease with an increase in testing, as many people with mild cases of COVID-19 are recovering.
However, among older adults and people with underlying health conditions, the mortality rate may be higher.
COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to those of the flu, and both can cause respiratory disease.
However, a person tends to develop flu symptoms more quickly than COVID-19 symptoms.
Doctors refer to the time between an infection occurring and symptoms arising as the incubation period. That of the flu is only
For some people flu symptoms are mild, while for others they can be severe and even fatal. According to the
- 80% of cases are mild or asymptomatic
- 15% of cases are severe, and the people require oxygen support
- 5% of cases are critical, and the people require mechanical ventilation
This indicates that COVID-19 is more likely to become severe or critical than the flu.
Other research indicates that the flu can
Groups at high risk of severe flu include:
- children
- pregnant women
- older adults
- people with weakened immune systems
- people with underlying health conditions
Overall, the global mortality rate of COVID-19 is higher than that of the flu. The percentage of reported deaths among people with reported cases is
For comparison, the mortality rate of the seasonal flu is usually under
However, because of the high numbers of asymptomatic and mild cases, many COVID-19 cases are not reported, meaning that the mortality rate is actually likely to be much lower.
Learn more about the differences between COVID-19 and the flu here.
SARS is a disease caused by another type of coronavirus. Between 2002 and 2004, an
Symptoms of SARS include:
- a fever
- chills
- body aches
SARS can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and severe breathing problems. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, SARS has a mortality rate of roughly 10%.
Although further research is necessary, COVID-19 appears to spread more quickly than SARS, though it may be less likely to cause severe illness.
There have been no reports of SARS in humans since 2004.
Many people with COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms, and most recover without needing treatment in a hospital.
For some people, including older adults and people with ongoing health conditions, COVID-19 can cause serious symptoms and, sometimes, complications that become life threatening.
Taking precautions to avoid contracting the infection is one of the best ways to protect against COVID-19. Physical distancing, washing the hands frequently, and disinfecting surfaces can all help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.