While high IFN‐λ1 levels were associated with lower SARS‐CoV‐2 viral loads and faster clearance in a cohort of COVID‐19 patients (Galani et al, 2021), a higher IFN‐β‐to IFN‐λ1 ratio was linked to longer hospitalization. This evidence concerns the gene IFNB1 and COVID-19.