COVID-19 Pandemic

Definition

The COVID-19 pandemic refers to the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that began in late 2019. It is characterized by rapid human-to-human transmission and can cause severe respiratory illness.

Analogy

Think of the COVID-19 pandemic like a wildfire spreading across a dry forest. Just as one spark can ignite an entire forest, one infected person can spread the virus to many others, causing it to spread rapidly around the world.

Related terms

Pandemic: A pandemic is an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people.

Epidemiology: This is the study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why. Epidemiological information is used to plan and evaluate strategies to prevent illness and as a guide to the management of patients in whom disease has already developed.

Virus: A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea.