COVID-19: Knowns, Unknowns, and Questions

Stuart Weston; Matthew B Frieman

doi:10.1128/mSphere.00203-20

COVID-19: Knowns, Unknowns, and Questions

mSphere. 2020 Mar 18;5(2):e00203-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00203-20.

Authors

Stuart Weston¹, Matthew B Frieman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA mfrieman@som.umaryland.edu.

Abstract

The recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from the Hubei province in China in late 2019 demonstrates the epidemic potential of coronaviruses. The rapid spread of this virus across the world in only 2 months highlights the transmissibility of this family of viruses and the significant morbidity and mortality that they can cause. We highlight the current state of knowledge of coronavirus biology while answering questions concerning the current outbreak of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus*
COVID-19
China / epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
Humans
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2