I remember reading that Neanderthal genes are most prevalent in White Europeans and next to non existent in Asians, sub Saharan Africans, and Indians/Semitic people.

Which could explain why it has been a lot more brutal for those countries, unless we chalk that up to culture, lack of "social distancing" or even basic hand washing. Which might be the case since Korea and Japan seem to have coped fairly well, they are quite advanced compared to rural india or any place in africa/middle east.

There are many other articles and "studies" that say "minorities" are more susceptible to it, whether that is genetic or sociological will likely never be truly known since "race is a social construct" and prevalence of sickle cell or lactose intolerance in certain races is totally a coincidence.