This year’s death toll has been higher in high risk groups.
High-risk groups include those with asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, children with neurodevelopmental conditions, or women who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. There are small subsets of patients, even among young persons previously healthy, who rapidly develop severe pneumonia, typically 3 to 5 days after initial onset of symptoms. Deterioration can be very rapid, with many patients progressing to respiratory failure within 24 hours, requiring intensive care and ventilation support.