Table 1a Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients. No. (%) Total (n = 21) Survival (n = 17) Non-survival (n = 4) Age, mean (s.d.) 62.5 (12.6) 61.5 (9.5) 79.7 (14.3)⁎ Male 11 (52.3) 9 (53.9) 2 (50.0) Comorbidities 13 (61.9) 9 (53.9) 4 (100)  Type 2 diabetes 3 (14.3) 3 (17.6) 0 (0)  Hypertension 10 (47.6) 8 (35.3) 2 (50.0)  Cardiovascular disease 5 (23.8) 3 (17.6) 2 (50.0)  Kidney diseases 1 (4.8) 1 (5.8) 0 (0) Onset symptoms  Fever 18 (85.7) 14 (82.3) 4 (100)  Cough 20 (95.2) 16 (94.1) 4 (100)  Fatigue 15 (71.4) 11 (64.7) 4 (100)  Shortness of breath 9 (42.8) 5 (29.4) 4 (100)  Diarrhea 2 (9.5) 2 (11.7) 0 (0) Treatment  Arbidol 15 (71.4) 12 (70.6) 3 (75.0)  Lopinavir/ritonavir 7 (33.3) 4 (23.5) 3 (75.0)  Interferon inhalation 7 (33.3) 4 (23.5) 3 (75.0)  Corticosteroid 3 (14.3) 3 (17.6) 0 (0)  Thymalfasin 6 (28.6) 6 (35.3) 0 (0)  Oxygen 8 (38.1) 4 (23.5) 4 (100)  Mechanical ventilation 4 (19.0) 0 (0) 4 (100) ⁎ p < 0.05, as compared to the patient group that survived.