what is covid 19?
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a highly infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and quickly spread worldwide, leading to a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. Key Information about COVID-19: Symptoms : Common: Fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell. Severe: Difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion. Some people remain asymptomatic but can still spread the virus. Transmission : Spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Can also spread via contact with contaminated surfaces, though this is less common. Complications : Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), organ failure, or death. Certain groups, such as older adults and those with underlying health conditions, are at higher risk. Prevention : Vaccination: Several vaccines have been developed to reduce severe ...