A previous study reported that infection with SARS-CoV-2 could cause the production of a range of systemic cytokines and chemokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and these were significantly elevated in severe patients with COVID-19 pneumonia compared with moderate cases, leading to intense systemic inflammation 29-31. Here, IL6 is linked to infection.