BMF 95 - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2) is a virus that first appeared in Wuhan, China in late 2019. COVID-19 is likely to have zoonotic origins much like other coronaviruses; SARS (SARS-CoV) and MERS. This disease is highly contagious and is now classified as a pandemic. Although most people infected are asymptomatic, have mild or varied symptoms, severe cases include difficulty breathing and require hospitalisation. The vulnerable population include people over 60 and those with a weakened immune system or pre-existing health conditions. Since there are still many unknowns, researching this disease is paramount amongst the scientific community. Currently, there are no vaccines or treatments for COVID-19, but some clinical trials aim to find drugs already available to help aid in treatment of the disease.