Because the IFN-β stimulatory activity of the small viral RNA (svRNA) fraction was unique to SARS-CoV-2 and likely to be associated with the increased IFN-β response during infection, as are also the longer viral RNAs, we then focused on identifying SARS-CoV-2-derived svRNAs that evoke IFN-β production. This evidence concerns the gene IFNB1 and infection.