How COVID-19 affects people with diabetes, cancer, and other conditions

The COVID-19 coronavirus is a respiratory virus, which means it can invade your respiratory system, affecting how you breathe in oxygen and get it to your bloodstream. Where the virus targets can explain why certain conditions are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Conditions like diabetes, asthma, COPD, and cancers have higher risk factors, and the COVID-19 coronavirus affects each one in different ways.