SARS-CoV-2

WKP

Definition : Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), previously known by the provisional name 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus.

It is contagious in humans and is the cause of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that was designated a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), and a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 has close genetic similarity to bat coronaviruses, suggesting it emerged from a bat-borne virus.

An intermediate animal reservoir such as a pangolin is also thought to be involved in its introduction to humans.

From a taxonomic perspective, SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a strain of the species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV).

Keywords

 viral pneumonia
 coronavirus / coronaviruses
 ARDS