Please note: This report has been corrected.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Severe Outcomes Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) —

United States, February 12–March 16, 2020
CDC COVID-19 Response Team

On March 18, 2020, this report was posted as an MMWR Early interest, including hospitalization status (1,514), ICU admis-
Release on the MMWR website (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr). sion (2,253), death (2,001), and age (386). Because of these
Globally, approximately 170,000 confirmed cases of coro- missing data, the percentages of hospitalizations, ICU admis-
navirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the 2019 novel sions, and deaths (case-fatality percentages) were estimated as
coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported, including an a range. The lower bound of these percentages was estimated
estimated 7,000 deaths in approximately 150 countries (1). by using all cases within each age group as denominators. The
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared corresponding upper bound of these percentages was estimated
the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic (2). Data from China by using only cases with known information on each outcome
have indicated that older adults, particularly those with seri- as denominators.
ous underlying health conditions, are at higher risk for severe As of March 16, a total of 4,226 COVID-19 cases had been
COVID-19–associated illness and death than are younger reported in the United States, with reports increasing to 500
persons (3). Although the majority of reported COVID-19 or more cases per day beginning March 14 (Figure 1). Among
cases in China were mild (81%), approximately 80% of deaths 2,449 patients with known age, 6% were aged ≥85, 25%
occurred among adults aged ≥60 years; only one (0.1%) were aged 65–84 years, 18% each were aged 55–64 years and
death occurred in a person aged ≤19 years (3). In this report, 45–54 years, and 29% were aged 20–44 years (Figure 2). Only
COVID-19 cases in the United States that occurred during 5% of cases occurred in persons aged 0–19 years.
February 12–March 16, 2020 and severity of disease (hospi- Among 508 (12%) patients known to have been hospitalized,
talization, admission to intensive care unit [ICU], and death) 9% were aged ≥85 years, 36% were aged 65–84 years, 17%
were analyzed by age group. As of March 16, a total of 4,226 were aged 55–64 years, 18% were 45–54 years, and 20% were
COVID-19 cases in the United States had been reported to aged 20–44 years. Less than 1% of hospitalizations were among
CDC, with multiple cases reported among older adults living persons aged ≤19 years (Figure 2). The percentage of persons
in long-term care facilities (4). Overall, 31% of cases, 45% of hospitalized increased with age, from 2%–3% among persons
hospitalizations, 53% of ICU admissions, and 80% of deaths aged ≤19 years, to ≥31% among adults aged ≥85 years. (Table).
associated with COVID-19 were among adults aged ≥65 years Among 121 patients known to have been admitted to an
with the highest percentage of severe outcomes among persons ICU, 7% of cases were reported among adults ≥85 years,
aged ≥85 years. In contrast, no ICU admissions or deaths were 46% among adults aged 65–84 years, 36% among adults
reported among persons aged ≤19 years. Similar to reports from aged 45–64 years, and 12% among adults aged 20–44 years
other countries, this finding suggests that the risk for serious (Figure 2). No ICU admissions were reported among persons
disease and death from COVID-19 is higher in older age groups. aged ≤19 years. Percentages of ICU admissions were lowest
Data from cases reported from 49 states, the District of among adults aged 20–44 years (2%–4%) and highest among
Columbia, and three U.S. territories (5) to CDC during adults aged 75–84 years (11%–31%) (Table).
February 12–March 16 were analyzed. Cases among persons Among 44 cases with known outcome, 15 (34%) deaths
repatriated to the United States from Wuhan, China and from were reported among adults aged ≥85 years, 20 (46%) among
Japan (including patients repatriated from cruise ships) were adults aged 65–84 years, and nine (20%) among adults aged
excluded. States and jurisdictions voluntarily reported data 20–64 years. Case-fatality percentages increased with increasing
on laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 using previ- age, from no deaths reported among persons aged ≤19 years to
ously developed data collection forms (6). The cases described highest percentages (10%–27%) among adults aged ≥85 years
in this report include both COVID-19 cases confirmed by (Table) (Figure 2).
state or local public health laboratories as well as those with
Discussion
a positive test at the state or local public health laboratories
and confirmation at CDC. No data on serious underlying Since February 12, 4,226 COVID-19 cases were reported in
health conditions were available. Data on these cases are the United States; 31% of cases, 45% of hospitalizations, 53%
preliminary and are missing for some key characteristics of of ICU admissions, and 80% of deaths occurred among adults

US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR / March 27, 2020 / Vol. 69 / No. 12 343
 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

FIGURE 1. Number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reported daily*,† (N = 4,226) — United States, February 12–March 16, 2020
1,200

1,000

800
No. of cases

600

400

200

0
27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Feb Mar
Date of report
* Includes both COVID-19 cases confirmed by state or local public health laboratories, as well as those testing positive at the state or local public health laboratories
and confirmed at CDC.
† Cases identified before February 28 were aggregated and reported during March 1–3.

aged ≥65 years with the highest percentage of severe outcomes be particularly vigilant to prevent the introduction and spread
among persons aged ≥85 years. These findings are similar to of COVID-19 (10). In addition, clinicians who care for adults
data from China, which indicated >80% of deaths occurred should be aware that COVID-19 can result in severe disease
among persons aged ≥60 years (3). These preliminary data among persons of all ages. Persons with suspected or confirmed
also demonstrate that severe illness leading to hospitalization, COVID-19 should monitor their symptoms and call their pro-
including ICU admission and death, can occur in adults of vider for guidance if symptoms worsen or seek emergency care
any age with COVID-19. In contrast, persons aged ≤19 years for persistent severe symptoms. Additional guidance is available
appear to have milder COVID-19 illness, with almost no for health care providers on CDC’s website (https://www.cdc.
hospitalizations or deaths reported to date in the United gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html).
States in this age group. Given the spread of COVID-19 in This report describes the current epidemiology of
many U.S. communities, CDC continues to update current COVID-19 in the United States, using preliminary data. The
recommendations and develop new resources and guidance, findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations.
including for adults aged ≥65 years as well as those involved First, data were missing for key variables of interest. Data on
in their care (7,8). age and outcomes, including hospitalization, ICU admission,
Approximately 49 million U.S. persons are aged ≥65 years and death, were missing for 9%–53% of cases, which likely
(9), and many of these adults, who are at risk for severe resulted in an underestimation of these outcomes. Second,
COVID-19–associated illness, might depend on services and further time for follow-up is needed to ascertain outcomes
support to maintain their health and independence. To prepare among active cases. Third, the initial approach to testing was
for potential COVID-19 illness among persons at high risk, to identify patients among those with travel histories or persons
family members and caregivers of older adults should know what with more severe disease, and these data might overestimate
medications they are taking and ensure that food and required the prevalence of severe disease. Fourth, data on other risk
medical supplies are available. Long-term care facilities should factors, including serious underlying health conditions that

344 MMWR / March 27, 2020 / Vol. 69 / No. 12 US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

FIGURE 2. COVID-19 hospitalizations,* intensive care unit (ICU) admissions,† and deaths,§ by age group — United States, February 12–
March 16, 2020

140
No. of hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths

120 Hospitalizations
ICU admissions
Deaths
100

80

60

40

20

0
0–19 20–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75–84 ≥85
Age group (yrs)

* Hospitalization status missing or unknown for 1,514 cases.

† ICU status missing or unknown for 2,253 cases.
§ Illness outcome or death missing or unknown for 2,001 cases.

could increase risk for complications and severe illness, were TABLE. Hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and case–
unavailable at the time of this analysis. Finally, limited testing fatality percentages for reported COVID–19 cases, by age group —
United States, February 12–March 16, 2020
to date underscores the importance of ongoing surveillance of
%*
COVID-19 cases. Additional investigation will increase the Age group (yrs)
(no. of cases) Hospitalization ICU admission Case-fatality
understanding about persons who are at risk for severe illness
and death from COVID-19 and inform clinical guidance and 0–19 (123) 1.6–2.5 0 0
20–44 (705) 14.3–20.8 2.0–4.2 0.1–0.2
community-based mitigation measures.* 45–54 (429) 21.2–28.3 5.4–10.4 0.5–0.8
The risk for serious disease and death in COVID-19 cases 55–64 (429) 20.5–30.1 4.7–11.2 1.4–2.6
65–74 (409) 28.6–43.5 8.1–18.8 2.7–4.9
among persons in the United States increases with age. Social 75–84 (210) 30.5–58.7 10.5–31.0 4.3–10.5
distancing is recommended for all ages to slow the spread of ≥85 (144) 31.3–70.3 6.3–29.0 10.4–27.3
the virus, protect the health care system, and help protect Total (2,449) 20.7–31.4 4.9–11.5 1.8–3.4
vulnerable older adults. Further, older adults should maintain * Lower bound of range = number of persons hospitalized, admitted to ICU, or
adequate supplies of nonperishable foods and at least a 30-day who died among total in age group; upper bound of range  =  number of
persons hospitalized, admitted to ICU, or who died among total in age group
supply of necessary medications, take precautions to keep space with known hospitalization status, ICU admission status, or death.
between themselves and others, stay away from those who are
sick, avoid crowds as much as possible, avoid cruise travel and Acknowledgments
nonessential air travel, and stay home as much as possible to State and local health departments; clinical staff members caring
further reduce the risk of being exposed (7). Persons of all ages for patients.
and communities can take actions to help slow the spread of
CDC COVID-19 Response Team
COVID-19 and protect older adults.†
Stephanie Bialek, CDC; Ellen Boundy, CDC; Virginia Bowen,
* https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community- CDC; Nancy Chow, CDC; Amanda Cohn, CDC; Nicole Dowling,
mitigation-strategy.pdf. CDC; Sascha Ellington, CDC; Ryan Gierke, CDC; Aron Hall, CDC;
† https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_
Jessica MacNeil, CDC; Priti Patel, CDC; Georgina Peacock, CDC;
coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf.

US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR / March 27, 2020 / Vol. 69 / No. 12 345
 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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346 MMWR / March 27, 2020 / Vol. 69 / No. 12 US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention