Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Also colloquially known simply as the coronavirus, it was previously referred to by its provisional name, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), and has also been called human coronavirus 2019 (HCoV-19 or hCoV-19). SARS‑CoV‑2 is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that is contagious in humans. As described by the US National Institutes of Health, it is the successor to SARS-CoV-1, the virus that caused the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak.

SARS‑CoV‑2 is a virus of the species "severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus" (SARSr-CoV). It is believed to have zoonotic origins and has close genetic similarity to bat coronaviruses, suggesting it emerged from a bat-borne virus. Research is ongoing as to whether SARS‑CoV‑2 came directly from bats or indirectly through any intermediate hosts. The virus shows little genetic diversity, indicating that the spillover event introducing SARS‑CoV‑2 to humans is likely to have occurred in late 2019.

Epidemiological studies estimate that each infection results in an average of 2.39 to 3.44 new ones when no members of the community are immune and no preventive measures are taken. The virus primarily spreads between people through close contact and via aerosols and respiratory droplets that are exhaled when talking, breathing, or otherwise exhaling, as well as those produced from coughs or sneezes. It mainly enters human cells by binding to a membrane protein that regulates the renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)).
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virus
Concept
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COVID-19
Concept
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respiratory illness
Concept
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COVID-19 pandemic
Concept
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provisional name
Concept
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positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus
Concept
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contagious
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National Institutes of Health
Concept
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SARS-CoV-1
Concept
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2002–2004 SARS outbreak
Concept
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severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus
Concept
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zoonotic
Concept
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genetic similarity
Concept
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bat-borne virus
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Research is ongoing
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genetic diversity
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Concept
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immune
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preventive measures
Concept
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respiratory droplets
Concept
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enters
Concept
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angiotensin converting enzyme 2
Concept
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Concept
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