As reported in other studies (7, 8, 27–30), IL-6 levels of the majority of the COVID–19 patients in the present study (18/21, 85.7%) were significantly higher than healthy individuals (median of 9 pg/ml and 3 pg/ml in COVID–19 patients and healthy individuals, respectively; p=0·0018, Mann-Whitney test). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is COVID-19.