Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and

the virus that causes it

Official names have been announced for the virus responsible for COVID-19 (previously
known as “2019 novel coronavirus”) and the disease it causes.  The official names are:

Disease 

coronavirus disease 
(COVID-19)

Virus 

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 

(SARS-CoV-2)

Why do the virus and the disease have different

names? 
Viruses, and the diseases they cause, often have different names.  For example, HIV is
the virus that causes AIDS.  People often know the name of a disease, such as
measles, but not the name of the virus that causes it (rubeola).

There are different processes, and purposes, for naming viruses and diseases.

Viruses are named based on their genetic structure to facilitate the development of
diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines. Virologists and the wider scientific community
do this work, so viruses are named by the International Committee on Taxonomy of
Viruses (ICTV).  

Diseases are named to enable discussion on disease prevention, spread,

transmissibility, severity and treatment. Human disease preparedness and response is
WHO’s role, so diseases are officially named by WHO in the International Classification
of Diseases (ICD).
ICTV announced “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)” as
the name of the new virus on 11 February 2020.  This name was chosen because the
virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of
2003.  While related, the two viruses are different.   

WHO announced “COVID-19” as the name of this new disease on 11 February 2020,
following guidelines previously developed with the World Organisation for Animal Health
(OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

 WHO Director-General's remarks at the media on 11 February 2020

 WHO Situation Report on 11 February 2020

WHO and ICTV were in communication about the naming of both the virus and the
disease.

What name does WHO use for the virus?

From a risk communications perspective, using the name SARS can have unintended
consequences in terms of creating unnecessary fear for some populations, especially in
Asia which was worst affected by the SARS outbreak in 2003. 

For that reason and others, WHO has begun referring to the virus as “the virus
responsible for COVID-19” or “the COVID-19 virus” when communicating with the
public.  Neither of these designations are intended as replacements for the official name
of the virus as agreed by the ICTV.

Material published before the virus was officially named will not be updated unless
necessary in order to avoid confusion.

Management of ill travellers at Points of Entry –

international airports, seaports and ground
crossings – in the context of COVID-19 outbreak
This document aims to provide advice on the detection and management of ill travellers
suspected of COVID-19 infection, at international airports, ports and ground crossings.
It includes the following measures; 1)Detection of ill travellers; 2) Interview of ill
travellers for COVID-19; 3) Reporting of alerts of ill travellers with suspected COVID-19
infection and 4) Isolation, initial case management and referral of ill travellers with
suspected COVID-19 infection.

 Access the publication

 
Key planning recommendations for Mass
Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19
outbreak (Interim guidance)
The purpose of this document is to outline key planning considerations for organizers of
mass gatherings in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. It should be read in
conjunction with WHO’s Public Health for Mass Gatherings: Key Considerations. which
provides general advice on the public health aspects of mass gathering events. It is also
adapted from WHO’s interim planning considerations previously released for mass
gatherings in the context of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza, and International
meetings attended by individuals from Ebola virus disease-affected countries.

Access the course

Online course for public health preparedness for

mass gathering events
This project aims to support host nations in delivering a safe and successful
event, as part of WHO’s ongoing support to countries in strengthening the
International Health Regulations capacities for prevention, detection and
response to the public health events in the context of hosting mass gathering
events.
To create a user account, future members need to click on “Register” from the
homepage of the Health Security Learning Platform:

Access the course

Public health preparedness and response for

aviation sector
Handbook for the Management of Public Health Events in Air Transport

This handbook was developed in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation
Organization. It is intended to help competent authorities at airports to implement a risk
based approach to public health events in a consistent manner and assist in
determining interventions that are commensurate to the risks, while avoiding
unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.

Access the publication

Public health preparedness and response for

maritime sector
WHO has published several technical guidance, developed in collaboration with the
Maritime sectors, for routine inspection on board ships and for public health emergency
response to the public health events on board ships and at ports.

Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases/outbreak on board ships

To assist WHO Member States, all State Parties to the International Health Regulations
(IHR), in managing individual case or outbreaks on board ships in the context of
COVID-19, by outlining operational considerations to reduce the risk of transmission of
COVID-19 on board ships, while avoiding unnecessary interference with international
traffic and trade.
The target audience of this documents is any authority involved in public health
response to a COVID-19 public health event on board ships, including IHR National
Focal Points (NFP), port health authorities, local, provincial and national health
surveillance and response system, as well as port operators and ship operators.

- Access the document

Handbook for the management of public health events on board ships

To assist States Parties in contingency planning and implementation of health

measures on board ships or in ports, WHO developed a generic guidance addressing
all public health risks and related rules and regulations. 

According to IHR, competent authorities at ports are responsible for responding to

events that pose a risk to public health. These events are identified through notifications
by ships or other competent authorities, during a ship inspection or even through other
informal routes such as media reports. Events may be caused by biological, chemical or
radiological agents. Event management involves event identification, verification, risk
assessment and response.

Key Messages and Actions for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Schools
The purpose of this document is to provide clear and actionable guidance for
safe operations through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19
in schools and other educational facilities. The guidance, while specific to
countries that have already confirmed the transmission of COVID-19, is still
relevant in all other contexts. Education can encourage students to become
advocates for disease prevention and control at home, in school, and in their
community by talking to others about how to prevent the spread of viruses.
Maintaining safe school operations or reopening schools after a closure requires
many considerations but, if done well, can promote public health.

- Access the publication

Health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of

COVID-19 virus

This tool is to be used by health care facilities that have either cared for or admitted
COVID-19 patients; it is to be completed for all health workers who have been exposed
to a confirmed COVID-19 patient in a health care facility. It will help determine the risk of
COVID-19 virus infection of all HCWs who have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient
and then provides recommendations for appropriate management of these HCWs,
according to their infection risk.

Find below the links to the template for collecting the data contained within the tool and
a corresponding data dictionary to facilitate the collection of this data.

- Access the tool

- Access to the data template

- Access to the data dictionary

Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

This document summarizes WHO recommendations for the rational use of personal
protective equipment (PPE), in health care and community settings, including the
handling of cargo. This document is intended for those involved in the distribution and
management of PPE, as well as public health authorities and individuals in health care
and community settings to understand when PPE use is most appropriate.

- Access the publication

Advice on the Use of Masks

This document provides rapid advice on the use of medical masks in communities, at
home and at health care facilities in areas that have reported outbreaks caused by the
2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV). It is intended for public health and infection prevention
and control (IPC) professionals, health care managers, health care workers and
community health workers.

- Access the publication

Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV)
infection is suspected
This is the first edition of guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies
for use when infection with a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is suspected. It has been
adapted from WHO’s Infection prevention and control during health care for probable or
confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
infection, based on current knowledge of the situation in China and other countries
where cases were identified and experiences with severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS)-CoV and MERS-CoV.