At the risk of being pounced on for being politically incorrect and ignorant (which has happened a lot on this board lately), could there be something genetically that makes Asians more susceptible to this virus?
Yes. ACE2 receptor expression in lung tissue. From the tissue studies I have seen the top two highest expression ancestries for ACE2 lung tissue receptors are 1) Japanese 2) Han Chinese. Way at the bottom are African Black ancestry and a rung up are Northern European ancestry. The difference is large. 3 to 4 times higher expression in the lung tissue in East Asian ancestry.
This virus binds to ACE2 to break through the cell walls and get into cells to infect them. Lower ACE2, and less chance of getting it if exposed and if you get it less cells infected so less severe or so go the theories.
I can not vouch for the studies nor theory, but this is out there.