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Common name: COVID-19

Scientific name: SARS-CoV-2

Genus: Betacoronavirus

Species: Betacoronavirus pandemicum

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1. First detection: COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. A large number of patients in Wuhan began to experience pneumonia-like symptoms that did not resolve with standard treatments. These cases were linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, although it has not been confirmed that the market was the virus's origin.

2. Suspected infectious agent: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the infectious agent that is responsible for COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 is an obligate intracellular parasite, meaning that it needs to be inside a host's cells in order to survive and replicate. It is theorized that the virus first started spreading from infected bats to humans, potentially with other animals acting as intermediary hosts.

3. Type of disease: COVID-19 is a communicable viral infection, meaning that it is able to spread from human to human via airborne respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, or direct physical contact with an infected person.

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Map of total confirmed COVID-19 cases as of June 14, 2023

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1. Where: COVID-19 quickly spread to nearly every single country in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered to be one of the most widespread pandemics in modern history, with the US, India, and Brazil having the highest numbers of cases.

2. Timeline: The first confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of China was detected in Thailand in January 2020. Other countries in Asia soon began to report cases as well. COVID-19 reached the US by January 20, 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Throughout 2020 and 2021, cases increased rapidly, with the height of the pandemic being in early 2022. The emergence of several different variants, including the Delta variant in March 2021 and the Omicron variant in January 2022, resulted in additional surges in cases. Vaccination rates began to rise in the spring of 2022, resulting in a gradual decrease in cases. The WHO declared an end to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023, although infections still occur worldwide to this day.

3. Number of people affected: As of April 13, 2024, there have been a total of 704,753,890 confirmed cases worldwide, with 7,010,681 deaths.

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Virulence is defined as the severity or harmfulness of a pathogen, following an infection. The virulence of COVID-19 varies depending on a number of factors, including age, pre-existing health conditions, and vaccination status. Older adults, unvaccinated individuals, and people with weakened immune systems are higher risk of severe illness and complications from COVID-19. Additionally, some variants of COVID-19 are more virulent than others, including the Delta variant, which is one of the most virulent variants of COVID-19. Before vaccines became readily available, COVID-19 was much more virulent, with high hospitalization and mortality rates. As more people developed immunity through vaccination or natural infection over time, hospitalizations and deaths decreased.

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials enforced lockdowns, while the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged people to wear masks and practice social distancing. Hospitals and clinics converted wards into COVID-specific units and increased their ICU capacities. Once vaccines became available, massive vaccination campaigns were organized globally to immunize populations, often focusing first on high-risk groups. These vaccines were developed using mRNA, which was a revolutionary advance in vaccine technology, allowing for rapid design and production. Medications like Remdesivir were repurposed and approved for COVID-19 treatment. New drugs, such as Paxlovid, were later developed specifically to target the virus. New methods for tracking and treating COVID-19 cases were introduced as well, including digital contact tracing and telehealth monitoring.

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Many governments imposed lockdowns, travel bans, and social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Government leaders increased funding for healthcare systems, provided personal protective equipment for frontline workers, and established temporary hospitals in heavily affected areas. Once vaccines became available, they also launched mass vaccination campaigns. Some countries achieved high vaccination rates quickly, while others struggled. There were many groundbreaking strategies that were implemented globally to combat the pandemic, including digital contact tracing, telemedicine, mRNA vaccines, and drive-through testing. Although most governments were able to manage the COVID-19 pandemic well, there are a few areas for improvement. Some countries lacked pandemic preparedness plans or delayed acknowledging the severity of the outbreak. Other issues included the spread of misinformation, uneven distribution of resources, and lack of support for marginalized communities.

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COVID-19 had significant social impacts that are still noticeable today. The widespread lockdowns, social distancing, and quarantines led to an increase in mental health issues worldwide, with many people reporting increased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and stress. Additionally, the shift to remote work and the loss of jobs in the hospitality and retail industries reshaped the labor market. Responses to public health measures, such as mask mandates and vaccination requirements, became politically divisive in many countries, especially in the US. Many societal behaviors changed as well in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. People became more conscious of personal and public hygiene, and mask wearing became normalized in many countries where it previously wasn't. Remote work and flexible work arrangements became more popular, as well as online shopping, telehealth, and other digital tools for everyday tasks. COVID-19 provided many learning opportunities for society, with many nations recognizing the need for stronger public health systems, vaccine research, and emergency preparedness. COVID-19 also increased awareness of systemic inequalities regarding healthcare access and digital resources.

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The most revealing aspect I learned about my disease, COVID-19, was the societal impacts that it had worldwide. This pandemic was very different from previous pandemics that we have experienced, due to advances in technology and healthcare. We have learned a lot from this pandemic, and we have implemented new preventative measures including social distancing, mask wearing, and remote work/school. As a society, we have become more conscious of personal and public hygiene, and many nations have recognized the need for stronger public health systems, vaccine research, and emergency preparedness. Something that surprised me about COVID-19 was the fact that it spread to almost every country in the world. In fact, as of February 2024 the only country that has never had a confirmed COVID-19 case is Turkmenistan. COVID-19 spread to densely populated countries first, while remote island nations in Oceania were reached last. Something that I came across through my research was how COVID-19 affected the environment. Lockdowns reduced industrial activity, vehicular traffic, and aviation, leading to less pollution and better air quality. Global carbon dioxide emissions temporarily declined during 2020, with estimates suggesting a reduction of up to 7% compared to 2019.