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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, a type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).[6] The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, and has since spread globally, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.[7][8] Common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.[9] Other symptoms may include muscle pain, sputum production, diarrhea, sore throat, loss of smell, and abdominal pain.[4][10][11] While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure.[7][12] As of 2 April 2020, more than 998,000[5] cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than two hundred countries and territories[13], resulting in over 51,300 deaths.[5] More than 208,000 people have recovered.[5]

The virus is spread mainly through close contact and via respiratory droplets produced when people cough or sneeze.[14][15] Respiratory droplets may be produced during breathing but the virus is not generally airborne.[14][16] People may also contract COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface and then their face.[14][15] It is most contagious when people are symptomatic, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear.[15] The virus can survive on surfaces up to 72 hours.[17] Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between two and fourteen days, with an average of five days.[9][18] The standard method of diagnosis is by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab.[19] The infection can also be diagnosed from a combination of symptoms, risk factors and a chest CT scan showing features of pneumonia.[20][21]

Recommended measures to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, social distancing (maintaining physical distance from others, especially from those with symptoms), covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inner elbow, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face.[22][23] The use of masks is recommended for those who suspect they have the virus and their caregivers.[24] Recommendations for mask use by the general public vary, with some authorities recommending against their use, some recommending their use, and others requiring their use.[25][26][27] Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Management involves treatment of symptoms, supportive care, isolation, and experimental measures.[28]