SARS-CoV-2
Novel coronavirus, 2019
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19, the respiratory illness responsible for the global pandemic beginning in 2020.
The name stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, indicating its relationship to the original SARS virus from 2003.
The virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and has spawned numerous variants: The Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 spread more readily than the original strain.
Spike-ringed viral family
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- zoonoticDisease from animals
- betacoronavirusEnveloped RNA virus genus
Enforced restriction on movement
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
- isolationComplete separation from others
- stay-at-homeNot one to travel
- testingExamining to evaluate
PCR · vaccination · booster · PPE · containment · mitigation
Sudden eruption of trouble
Able to spread disease
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- airborneTraveling through air
- dropletsMinute liquid globules
- aerosolMist in gas
respiratory · super-spreader · shedding · incubation · exposure · fomites · reinfection · transmissibility
Indicators of disease
- feverElevated body temperature
- coughExplosive airway clearing
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- pneumoniaInfected, inflamed lung tissue
hospitalization · ventilator · comorbidity · recovery · complications · hypoxia · inflammation
Permanent DNA alteration
- DeltaAlluvial formation at mouth
- OmicronGreek letter meaning "little O"
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- recombinationGenetic material exchange process
coronavirus
Spike-ringed viral family
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- zoonoticDisease from animals
lockdown
Enforced restriction on movement
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
- isolationComplete separation from others
- stay-at-homeNot one to travel
testing · PCR · vaccination · booster · PPE · containment · mitigation
outbreak
Sudden eruption of trouble
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- surgeSudden powerful increase
epicenter · hotspot · prevalence · incidence · epidemiology
infectious
Able to spread disease
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- airborneTraveling through air
- dropletsMinute liquid globules
aerosol · respiratory · super-spreader · shedding · incubation · exposure · fomites · reinfection · transmissibility
symptoms
Indicators of disease
- feverElevated body temperature
- coughExplosive airway clearing
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
pneumonia · hospitalization · ventilator · comorbidity · recovery · complications · hypoxia · inflammation
mutation
Permanent DNA alteration
- viral diseasesinfluenza, measles, mumps, rubella, smallpox
- coronavirusescoronavirus, betacoronavirus, MERS, omicron, omicron variant
- RNA virusescoronavirus, Ebola virus, rabies virus, poliovirus, rhinovirus
SARS-CoV-2influenza
Acute viral respiratory infection
common cold · rhinovirus · influenza A · H1N1 · bacterium