The virus is highly homologous to the coronavirus (CoV) which caused an epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003; this is why it was named SARS-CoV-2 by the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 11, 2020, and the associated disease referred to as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).
Virusi hivyo vinafanana sana na virusi vya korona (CoV) vilivyosababisha mkurupuko wa matatizo mabaya ya pumu yaani sever acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) mwaka wa 2003; hivyo, Shirika la Afya Ulimwenguni lilivipa jina SARS-CoV-2 mnamo tarehe 11, Februari 2020 na ugonjwa unaohusiana nao ulipewa jina la CoV Disease-19 (COVID-19).