A possible exception to this counter argument however, is that for a large subset (~10%) of patients with life-threatening COVID-19, neutralizing antibodies to IFN-Is (particularly IFNα and IFNω) have been detected in patient serum, this which is almost never found in the general population, and which almost certainly is blocking the potent anti-viral effects of IFN-Is, hence contributing to the severe pathology of these patients [78]. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and COVID-19.