In contrast to the inadequate IFN responses in SARS patients (Reghunathan et al., 2005; Ziegler et al., 2005), a robust IFN-directed antiviral response was observed in patients with COVID-19, even leading to cytokine storm that exacerbates the disease when pro-inflammatory cytokines were produced in excess (Yao Z. et al., 2020; Zhou Z. et al., 2020). Here, IFNA1 is linked to COVID-19.