Coronavirus disease 2019: The story so far

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China in late 2019 and became a global pandemic by March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus that causes a clinical illness known as Coronavirus Disease 2019. The clinical spectrum ranges from mild respiratory and generalized symptoms to severe pneumonia with multiple organ failure. Overall mortality is high in older patients and those with comorbidities such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Diagnosis is usually confirmed by polymerase chain reaction on upper or lower airway samples. Clinical management is largely supportive; no specific therapeutic options are currently available. Public health interventions have thus far been centered around social distancing, large-scale testing, and isolation. An unprecedent global effort has been mounted for the rapid development of effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Until such time, further waves of SARS-CoV-2 are likely, if the restrictive control measures are removed.