On December 31, 2019, the outbreak was classified as a new strain of the coronavirus to which the World Health Organization (WHO) gave the provisional name of 2019-nCoV, later renamed SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee taxonomy of viruses.
Tarehe 31 Desemba 2019, mlipuko huo ulitokana na aina mpya ya virusi vya korona, ambao ulipewa jina la muda la 2019-CoV na Shrika la Afya Duniani (WHO), baadaye lilibadilishwa jina kuwa SARS-CoV-2 na Kamati ya Kimatafa ya Uainisho wa Virusi.