Coronaviruses are
viruses that may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans,
coronaviruses is known to cause respiratory infections that range from the common
cold to severe respiratory diseases namely, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
This new virus and
disease were not known until the outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December
2019. Now, COVID-19 is considered a pandemic affecting several countries
globally.
Older people and
those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more prone to develop
serious illnesses. At present, there are no specific treatments or vaccines for
COVID-19. Though, there are several ongoing clinical trials evaluating
potential treatment.