COVID-19

The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 novel virus, originated in Wuhan, China before rapidly spreading around the world.

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease, with a high rate of transmissibility. Symptoms of infection include fever, joint and muscle aches, respiratory distress, loss of the sense of taste, cognitive fog, fatigue, sore throat, and more. Senior citizens are most at risk of dying from the disease, though secondary pre-existing conditions like obesity can make some patients more susceptible to danger. In severe cases, patients undergo respiratory distress and require intubation on ventilators.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, governments have initiated several policies to prevent spread. Many countries have severely restricted flights or entry into their state, with some like Israel adopting color systems to rank the risk posed by each destination. Contact tracing has become the norm, with citizens being obligated to quarantine after they have come into contact with an infected person. Social distancing and mask mandates have also become popular in many countries to prevent spread of infection. Early in the pandemic, lockdowns were used to prevent interaction between the public, in a severe attempt to halt transmission. Perhaps most controversial were the introduction of coronavirus passports, which would allow vaccinated citizens to move freely with a new form of ID. Critics assert that coronavirus passports represent an extreme violation of liberties.

There is an ongoing debate as to the origin of the coronavirus. Initially, it was accepted that the coronavirus originated in a wet market in Wuhan, China, within bats sold as food. However, it has been suggested that the virus may have originated from a virus research lab in Wuhan.

Several pharmaceutical companies have developed innovative mRNA vaccines to counter the coronavirus. Pfizer, Biontech, Astrazeneca, Moderna, Sinopharm and others have produced vaccines, however there is ongoing debate about their efficacy against new strains of the virus. Other pharmaceutical companies have developed treatments and drugs to alleviate and combat coronavirus symptoms.

The coronavirus is prone to mutations, and has already produced several well known variants, including the Delta and Lambda strains. The pandemic and virus may also colloquially be known as corona and COVID.

COVID-19

US national debt tops $40 trillion for first time, doubled under presidents Trump, Biden

US Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after refusing to answer questioning

Senate panel obtains Fauci’s COVID-era iPhone records as contempt vote approaches - report

Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment at Rand Paul-led US Senate COVID hearing

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick indicted on charges of misusing disaster funds

UK PM Johnson oversaw 'chaotic' response to COVID which led to more deaths, inquiry finds

Chinese COVID whistleblower sentenced to 4 more years in jail, group says

Suspect wrote note threatening Kirk, tied to scene by DNA, FBI director says

Gen Z's cleaning habits may reflect growing up in a world shaped by COVID-19 - study

Chikungunya virus outbreak in China infects at least 7,700, local authorities crack down

Japan sees big wins for far-right, anti-immigration party that denounced ‘Jewish capital’

Covid-19 pandemic tied to 5.5-month surge in brain aging across population

Israeli researchers develop world-first mRNA vaccine against deadly bacteria

Israeli researchers develop world's first mRNA-based vaccine against bacterium