Only CD4+ T cells in COVID-19 showed a higher frequency of PD1+LAG-3− and PD1+TIM-3− T cells compared to healthy donors although the frequency of these cells was highest in malaria with a significant increase of both PD1+LAG-3− and PD1+TIM-3− on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells compared to healthy controls. Here, CD8A is linked to malaria.