The Coronavirus Outbreak: What We Know and Tips to Stay Safe

A passenger wearing a mask walks outside the Shanghai railway station in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, on Feb. 8, 2020. Aly Song/Reuters

What Is It?

The new coronavirus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in early December. The virus is in the same family of pathogens that cause the flu and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

The World Health Organization on Feb. 11 officially named the disease “COVID-19,” an acronym for coronavirus disease 2019. Researchers are still unsure of the source of the virus, nor is there an immediate cure available.

What Are Its Symptoms?

The most common symptoms of the virus are fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, although Chinese researchers have noted other symptoms, such as fatigue, diarrhea, chest pains, and headaches.