Lack of exercise linked to increased risk of severe COVID-19 04 Aug 2021, 04:39 GMT+10 As promising as results from these and other similar studies are, an important question remains: Are we making life-saving physical activity accessible for the people who need it most? Physical activity for all Statistics Canada's data on Canadian COVID-19 deaths in 2020 reported at least one comorbidity present in 90 per cent of all COVID-19-related deaths (including younger age groups). A comorbidity is a disease or condition that a patient has at the same time as another illness. Many of the most common comorbid conditions on the list - including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes - are linked to physical inactivity.