INTRODUCTION

I. BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 virus also known as SARS-CoV-2, is a novel coronavirus that
emerged in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China. It belongs to
the same family of viruses as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
(SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
COVID-19, scientifically known as Coronavirus Disease 2019, is caused by the
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a single-stranded
RNA virus belonging to the family ‘Coronaviridae’ and the ‘genus Betacoronavirus’. The
virus is spherical in shape and has spike-like projections on its surface, giving it a
crown-like appearance, hence the name "coronavirus." SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have
originated from zoonotic transmission, meaning it crossed from animals to humans. The
exact animal source is yet to be confirmed, but it is suspected to have originated in bats
and potentially passed through an intermediate host which is the so-called pangolins
before infecting humans. The first reported cases were linked to a seafood market in
Wuhan, where live animals were also sold.
Possible modes of transmission for SARS-CoV-2, including direct or indirect
contact, droplet, airborne, fomite, fecal-oral route, bloodborne, mother-to-child, and
animal-to-human transmission. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 primarily causes respiratory
illness ranging from mild disease to severe disease and death, and some people
infected with the virus never develop symptoms. 
According to WHO the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 can vary widely,
ranging from mild respiratory symptoms to severe pneumonia. Most common
symptoms: fever, cough, tiredness, and loss of taste or smell. Less common
symptoms: sore throat, headache, aches and pains, diarrhea, a rash on skin, or
discolouration of fingers or toes , and red or irritated eyes. Serious symptoms: difficulty
breathing or shortness of breath, loss of speech or mobility, or confusion and chest pain.
However, some individuals may experience atypical symptoms or be
asymptomatic altogether. The estimated incubation period for COVID-19 is typically
between 2 to 14 days, with the average being around 5 to 6 days. However, it's
important to note that some individuals may develop symptoms earlier or later than this
range. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS), and organ failure, particularly in older adults or those with underlying health
conditions.