Written and accurate as at: 11 Mar 2020
On 11 February 2020, WHO announced the official names for the virus responsible for COVID-19 (earlier known as “2019 novel coronavirus – 2019-nCoV”) and the disease it causes: virus, SARS-CoV-2; disease, COVID-19.
Importantly, the viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (causes COVID-19) and SARS-CoV (causes SARS), are genetically related, but different. SARS is reportedly more deadly, but much less infectious than COVID-19.
As it stands, in terms of COVID-19*, globally, there has been a reported 119,096 cases, 4,284 deaths, and 65,765 recoveries. Whereas, domestically, there has been a reported 107 cases, 3 deaths, and 21 recoveries.
Understandably, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is receiving considerable attention by media outlets and the like.
In this animation, WHO provides further information and guidance on the disease.
*Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). GIS Dashboard: Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE.
