Explained: What is Coronavirus and COVID-19 Pandemic

World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the 2019-20 outbreak of coronavirus a pandemic. This means that the whole world has or likely will be affected by the COVID-19. The pandemic began in Wuhan, China in Nov-Dec 2019. Initially the virus transmitted from animals to humans. However, by January 2020 human-to-human transmission of virus was also detected. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world have become infected so far.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a group of viruses that cause common cold — and more lethal diseases like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Nowadays, informally, the term coronavirus is being used to refer to a specific strain of positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. Official it has been named as Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Earlier this virus was provisionally called as 2019 novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.

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What is the difference between Coronavirus and COVID-19 ?

The term coronavirus is being informally used to refer to the virus that has caused the 2019-20 pandemic. COVID-19 is the short-form of Coronavirus Disease 2019. Therefore, while coronavirus is the causing agent, COVID-19 is the disease that it causes.

On 11 February 2020, WHO formally announced that the 2019-20 Coronavirus disease will be called COVID-19.

Where did the Coronavirus Pandemic Begin?

So far there is no final conclusion on where this pandemic began, but it is widely accepted that the outbreak happened in the wild-animals meat market in Wuhan city of Hubei province in China.

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How does Coronavirus infection spread?

Coronavirus can spread from humans to humans via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes within a range of about 6 feet. The virus does not remain suspended in the air and settles down on a surface. Infection can also be caused if a person come in contact with an infected surface.

So far, there have not been much evidence that the coronavirus can spread from asymptomatic host. Therefore, the transmission happens only from those people who show symptoms of COVID-19. Keeping social distance and frequently washing hands are the best ways to prevent COVID-19.

How does Coronavirus look like?

When we look at Coronaviruses under a microscope, they appear to be surrounded by a corona or crown of protein spikes. This specific appearance is the reason why these viruses are called coronavirus — virus with a crown.

What are the symptoms of Coronavirus infection?

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after the infection of coronavirus:

• runny nose
• sore throat
• cough
• fever
• difficulty breathing (severe cases)

What is the R-naught value of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)?

At present, the R Naught (R0) of SARS-CoV-2 is 2.2.