Man Vs. Woman
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There are various researches on COVID-19 around the world but there is still no conclusion on who is more at risk in terms of gender. 

There have been many studies conducted around the world in determining the most vulnerable groups for COVID-19 in terms of gender aside from the immuno-compromised and elderly. It was found that two things make men and women different and vulnerable for this deadly and infectious disease.

So to finally have a conclusion, let us take a look at some of the most highlighted researches that stand as the basis in determining who is more prone and at risk for this virus.

Some Studies Suggest That Women Are More at Risk

In a recently published article, it was reported that women are more prone to the virus because of the role they play amid the COVID-19 crisis. It was found that among the healthcare workers who continue to combat the virus and give medical care to the patients, 70 percent of them are women. 

This means that more women than men are highly exposed to individuals who are positive for the virus. The number of women who are in the medical field worldwide is significantly higher and this what made them be more at risk. In other words, it is affected by the nature of their work.

In another study, women also take primary roles in the household most especially if a family member is sick. This means that if someone is showing signs of COVID-19 symptoms like mild fever and cough, women who take care of their family members are then exposed to the virus. 

Dr. Celine Gounder said that women around the world are more likely to take the burden of taking care of the home most especially if someone is sick. It was also found in a research from China that the virus is easily spread within the family because of their close and direct contact. 

This is more significant today since schools and businesses were shut down temporarily. This means that there is a great chance for women, who traditionally do the household chores and are taking care of the sick, to be infected easily.

This situation was proven already during the time Ebola outbreaks across Africa from 1976 to 2014. According to the study, Infectious Disease of Poverty in 2017, it was found that since women are traditionally the primary caregivers and are the ones who are responsible for preparing the bodies for the burial, this means that they were very vulnerable.

The research group said: "The transmission rate was higher in households than in hospitals. more cases were recorded among women than men," Even though there is no evidence that would support the gender gap of Ebola cases, but the number of infected individuals during the 2014 Ebola outbreak showed how women generally caught the disease because of their role.

But Other Studies Suggest That Men Are More at Risk

Many studies assert that men are more prone to be infected by COVID-19 because of their lifestyle. Smoking, drinking, and poor health were some of the factors seen in the previous research on why men catch the virus easily.

According to the Italian National Institute of Health, 60 percent of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Italy were men and 70 percent of those who died because of the virus were also men. 

In South Korea, the infection rate for women is higher compared to men but the death rate is significantly high for men than women. Again, this was attributed to their lifestyle. 

What is the verdict?

Therefore, finding the link between gender and the infection rate of COVID-19 would involve considering two things. First would be the role that we play, especially in healthcare. And second, the lifestyle that we choose to live.

In the end, it is still dependent on our individual activities, and not our gender.

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