Novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) is a new strain of coronavirus causing COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan City, China. Other coronavirus infections include the common cold (HCoV 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
The virus appears to have originated in Hubei Province in China towards the end of 2019. As of 9 April 2020, Italy and Spain were the most affected countries in Europe. Around 1.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally (in accordance with the testing strategies and definitions used in the affected countries), including approximately 90 000 deaths.
