Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as the novel coronavirus 2019, is the virus that causes the COVID-19 infectious respiratory disease. SARS-CoV-2 was previously known as n-2019-nCoV.

COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, which led to the discovery of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 can cause COVID-19 in babies, children, and adults of any age. It spread globally, resulting in the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19
COVID-19, or Coronavirus Disease 19, is the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, some people who become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 do not develop COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms, although around 1 in 6 people with COVID-19 need medical help, and the 2019-2020 pandemic has caused a significant number of deaths.

How soap and alcohol destroy coronaviruses
 Coronaviruses, including the viruses that cause COVID-19, SARS, H1N1 flu (swine flu), and seasonal flu, are all protected by an envelope of fat; soap molecules invade the envelope and strong concentrations of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol can strip away parts of the envelope, leading to the inaction of of the viral molecules. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/health/soap-coronavirus-handwashing-germs.html Isopropyl alcohol works against all viruses enveloped in fat, and ethyl alcohol additionally works against some non-enveloped viruses such as rotaviruses, when used at the correct concentrations.

Comparison with SARS
The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 illness is closely related to SARS-CoV: the coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The resulting COVID-19 illness has a lower risk of death than SARS, but has killed a much higher number of people. Both COVID-19 and SARS are many times more likely to kill than seasonal flu illnesses, which are also coronaviruses.

Notable studies

 * 2020, Structural basis of receptor recognition by SARS-CoV-2 - (Full text)

Learn more

 * Coronavirus (COVID-19) - CDC
 * Coronavirus - World Health Organization
 * Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic - World Health Organization
 * Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS