The new coronavirus that originated in China has spread globally, killing hundreds of thousands of people and infecting millions more. Here is everything Americans need to know, from its symptoms and origins to prevention.
The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has spread globally, killing hundreds of thousands of people and infecting millions more. The pandemic has upended life around the world, crippling the global economy and creating a „new normal“ for American life. Here is what we know about the pandemic so far:Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which cause the common cold; others found in bats, camels and other animals have evolved into more severe illnesses. The coronavirus at the center of the pandemic is a newly identified strand. The disease from this new coronavirus is officially named COVID-19, while the virus itself is called SARS-CoV-2. The new virus was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 and has since spread globally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronaviruses are responsible for two other recent outbreaks: the 2003 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak and the 2012 MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak Patients with COVID-19 have had a wide variety of symptoms and can experience mild to severe respiratory illnesses. The disease has the potential to attack many areas of the body, not just the respiratory system as previously thought. In late April, the CDC added six new symptoms to its list. Anyone experiencing emergency symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
