The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has produced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has culminated in the continuing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and was pronounced to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organization. On the 11 March 2020 this outbreak was classified as a pandemic. Greater than 11 million cases of COVID-19 were reported in 185 countries and territories and caused more than 535,000 deaths. To date greater than 336,000 people have recovered but re-infection or relapse is a possibility.

In this book you will learn about SARS-CoV-2, and COVID-19, the disease that it causes. Some of the topics that will be touched on include the various symptoms that COVID-19 causes, transmission, complications, diagnostic tests, prevention strategies and current treatments (e.g. drugs) as well as treatments that are under investigation. In addition, self-isolation, how to care for someone with COVID-19, safety measures for entering the home as well as safety measures for when you are out in public, will also be covered.