IFNA1 and COVID-19: In this regard, it should be underlined that while a protective role of IFNs in the first phases of SARS-CoV-2 replication in the nasal mucosa is well documented, the issue of a favorable or detrimental role of sustained IFN production in older hospitalized patients is still debated and conflicting results have been published on comparative levels of IFNs and ISGs induction found in mild vs severe COVID-19 (13, 14, 20, 25).