Many of the cell cycle-related genes, such as aurora kinase B (AURKB) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A, p21), were consistently upregulated in a COVID-19 specific manner, while some were consistently downregulated, such as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C, p57). Here, CDKN1A is linked to COVID-19.