The Pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract

Currently, the world is facing the emergence of a virus that causes pneumonia in humans, which has a higher probability of causing complications, including respiratory distress syndrome and death. The new coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV), which is currently known as SARS-CoV-2, is the cause of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, and appears to have been a zoonotic infection that has now adapted to humans. On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), causing widespread panic worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is genetically similar to the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related (SARS) and shares many similarities with the disease features of influenza virus infection. Scientists around the world are racing towards the development of vaccines and antivirals for COVID-19. This review will provide an update of COVID-19, a brief review of the symptoms and route of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the reason why it is highly infectious, as well as the currently available treatments and comorbidities.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2; infection; influenza; pandemic.