COVID-19 Basics

Let's get back to basics!

Emily Smith, ScD MPH
Published: March 14, 2020

What is Coronavirus? What is COVID-19?

Coronviruses are a family of bugs (aka viruses). You've had other versions of this bug before. Usually it just causes the the common cold [WHO].  Other causes of the common cold include respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus,  and human metapneumovirus.

Corona virus facts: "Corona" is latin for crown. Under a microscope, these viruses look like a crown with spikes ending in little blobs.
Coronavirus fun facts illustrated by @MalakaGharib.

COVID-19 is shorthand for the new COronaVIrus Disease being caused by a new-to-humans strain of coronavirus. The new bug was first reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019.