Additionally, our linkage disequilibrium findings highlighted a high correlation (D’= 0.989, R2 = 0.977) between rs879922 and rs4240157 SNVs in the ACE2 gene in the general population which are consistent with previous findings showing segregation of both SNVs rs879922 and rs4240157 with increased severity in obese COVID-19 patients as compared to lean counterparts from the Emirati population (11). Here, ACE2 is linked to COVID-19.