The death rate among those infected with the new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, is 2.3 percent, a study of 72,314 cases shows.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the largest study to date tracking COVID-19 patients.
Researchers examined 72,314 cases, as of Feb. 11, in mainland China to gather characteristics of the outbreak. Here are six:
1. Of the 72,314 cases, 44,672 (62 percent) were confirmed; 16,186 (22 percent) were suspected; 10,567 (15 percent) were diagnosed (where no test was performed but diagnosis was made based on symptoms and other factors); and 889 (1 percent) were asymptomatic (where a test confirmed the infection but the patient did not show any symptoms).
2. Of the 44,672 confirmed cases, most of the people infected (87 percent) were between the ages of 30 and 79 years. About 8 percent were in the 20-29 years age group, and 2 percent were younger than 19 years. Only 3 percent of COVID-19 patients were 80 years or older.
3. Among confirmed cases, 81 percent were designated as mild; 14 percent as severe; and 5 percent as critical.
4. The case fatality rate was 2.3 percent, or 1,023 of 44,672 confirmed cases. The death rate was highest among cases classified as critical — 49 percent.
5. The death rate was 14.8 percent in patients 80 years or older and 8 percent in patients between 70 and 79 years.
6. Of the 44,672 confirmed cases, 3.8 percent were healthcare personnel. Nearly 15 percent of those cases were classified as severe or critical.
As of Feb. 25, the coronavirus had sickened 80,346 and killed 2,705.