COVID-19 Updated 10/6/2020

This presentation summarizes important basic

information on the current pandemic. It was written for
high school and college non-science-major
students/teachers. Feel free to use, share, and send
suggestions for improvements.

SimonBiology@gmail.com
Eric J. Simon, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biology & Health Science
New England College, Henniker, NH

Contributor: Lori Koziol, Ph.D., New England College © This presentation is copyrighted (All Rights Reserved) by Eric J. Simon (2020).
This presentation may be freely distributed and used for educational purposes
Source of most data: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus provided that this title page and copyright statement are included.
All images included in this presentation are in the public domain.
A note to educators who wish to use this
slide show
● I created this slide show to be used by educators, so you should feel free to do
that.
● If you wish to modify the presentation yourself, do the following:
○ Top tool bar > File
○ Download > Microsoft PowerPoint
○ Save the presentation to your computer and modify as you see fit
● Copyright
○ © This presentation is copyrighted (All Rights Reserved) by Eric J. Simon (2020).
○ This presentation may be freely distributed and used for educational purposes provided that the
title page and copyright statement are included exactly as written.
○ All images included in this presentation are in the public domain.
What is an epidemic?
●An epidemic is the rapid spread of a disease through
a population in a relatively short amount of time.

Source: Epidemic page on wikipedia.org,

accessed 3/14/2020.
What is a pandemic?
●A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread
over a large region of the world.

●For example, the Spanish flu of 1918-1920

infected 500 million people (about ¼ of the
Earth’s population at that time) and killed
an estimated 50 million people.

●Before 2020, the most recent pandemic

was the 2009 H1N1 swine flu. It infected Hospital patients with the Spanish flu, 1919

about 10-20% of the world’s population

and killed 150,000-500,000 people.
What is the current pandemic?
● December 2019: a novel (new) coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, China.

● This virus has since been named

SARS-CoV-2
for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
[It was previously called 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).]
SARS-CoV-2
● The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is called
COVID-19
● March 11, 2020: After the disease caused by this coronavirus spread to 114
countries, the World Health Organization declared it to be a pandemic likely
to spread across the globe.
What is the current pandemic?
●January 2020:
○ Jan 7: WHO Officials announce they have identified
a new coronavirus.
○ Jan 11: China announces the first death from the
virus.
○ Jan 13: The first case is identified outside of China
○ Jan 20: The first human-to-human transfer of the
virus is identified
●February 2020:
○ Feb 2: The first death outside of China is reported.
○ Feb 14: The disease is confirmed to have spread to
Africa and Europe
○ Feb 25: The CDC warns Americans to expect
significant disruptions from the virus
What is the current pandemic?
●March/April 2020:
○ Cases in the U.S. surge.
○ Most school districts switch to online or remote
learning around March 13th.
○ U.S. residents are urged to stay in their homes unless
seeking groceries.
●May 2020:
○ Cases in the U.S. begin to decrease.
○ Although most schools stay remote, many U.S. states
began reopening non-essential businesses.
●June/July 2020:
○ Cases in the U.S. experience a second surge.
Progress of the worldwide pandemic:

Feb 1, 2020 April 1, 2020

June 1, 2020 August 1, 2020

Worldwide view of the pandemic:
Worldwide cumulative reported cases of COVID-19:

Summary: From the

Cases reported (worldwide)

beginning, the number of

The world passed 30 million cumulative
cases on September 18th, 2020.
COVID-19 cases has
increased exponentially,
and they continue to do so.
There is no way to predict
when the number of cases
will start to flatten out.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
Date
 Russia: 1.2M

Summary: The countries

U.S.: with the most cumulative
7.5M COVID-19 cases are the
U.S., India, Brazil, and
India: Russia with over 1
6.7M million cases each.
Brazil:
4.9M

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
 Summary: Taking
population into account
(cases per capita), the
worst-hit countries so far
are the U.S., South
America, and Europe.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
 Summary: Taking into
account population, the
disease is currently
spreading most rapidly in
South America, India, and
the U.S.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
The pandemic in the U.S.:
The U.S. passed 7 million cumulative
cases on September 26th, 2020.

Summary: The U.S. is

currently experiencing
an exponential
increase in the
number of COVID-19
cases. There is no
way to predict when
the curve will flatten
until it starts to do so.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
 Summary: The U.S.
experienced two
waves of rapid
increase in the
number of daily
cases, one in
March/April, and one
in June/July.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
The pandemic in the U.S.:

Cumulative confirmed
cases of COVID-19 in the
United States by county.

The New York Times

Hot spots in the U.S.:

County-by-county daily
per capita cases shows
that current hot spots are
found in the southern and
western U.S.

The New York Times

8/25/2020
What is a coronavirus?
● Coronaviruses are a group
of viruses that cause
several diseases in
mammals and birds.
● In humans, human
coronavirus (HCV) causes
respiratory infections that
are usually mild, including
some cases of the common
cold. Computer-generated model
Source: Coronavirus page on Wikipedia.org, accessed 3/14/2020
What is a coronavirus?
This group of viruses is
named for the club-shaped
protein spikes (artificially Protein
spikes that

colored red in the computer the virus

uses to
attach to

model) that protrude from host cells.

the viral surface and create

the appearance of a
“corona” (crown) when
viewed via an electron
microscope. Electron micrograph
Source: Coronavirus page on Wikipedia.org, accessed
3/14/2020
What is a coronavirus?
Classification:
Virus 🡪
realm Riboviria 🡪
phylum incertae sedis 🡪
order nidovirales 🡪
family coronaviridae 🡪 Electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-19
Source: NIH NIAID Flickr page

subfamily orthocoronavirinae
What is a coronavirus?
● Some coronaviruses cause
serious diseases in humans:
○ SARS-CoV is a coronavirus
that causes Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS), recognized in 2002
○ MERS-CoV is a coronavirus
that causes Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS)
Computer-generated model
Source: Coronavirus page on Wikipedia.org, accessed 3/14/2020
What is COVID-19?
●SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that
appeared in 2019, causes an acute respiratory
disease called coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19 for short).

●The disease is believed to have originated

through animal-to-human transmission but soon SARS virus

began to spread via human-to-human

transmission.

●COVID-19 is related to the previously known

diseases SARS and MERS which are caused by
different, but related, viruses. MERS virus
 causes

SARS-CoV-2 virus COVID-19 disease

What are the symptoms?
● Fever
● Fatigue
● Respiratory symptoms:
○ dry cough
○ shortness of breath
○ can lead to pneumonia
● Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days (average: 5-6
days) after exposure.
● However, many people may be infected but show no
symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms Uncommon symptoms Severe symptoms

● Fever ● Headache ● High fever

● Dry cough ● Loss of taste/smell ● Coughing up blood
● Shortness of breath ● Nasal congestion ● Decreased white
● Fatigue ● Sore throat blood cells
● Productive cough ● Organ failure
(sputum) ● Coma
● Muscle/joint pain
● Chills
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Diarrhea
What are the symptoms?
● The vast majority of cases are mild.

● Most mild cases run their course in 2 weeks.

● A minority of cases, most commonly among the

elderly and other high-risk populations, progress to
include severe pneumonia, organ failure, and death.

● These severe cases run their course in 3-6 weeks.

How does the virus invade the host?
● Respiratory symptoms occur
when the virus infects cells of
the alveoli within the lungs.

● The virus accesses these host

cells when a glycoprotein
spike on the outside of the
virus binds to a specific
protein called ACE2 found on
type II alveolar cells. A computer model of the ACE2 protein found on
the surface of alveolar lung cells to which the
viral protein spikes bind.
How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
● PCR test:
●The standard method for confirming a
case of COVID-19 is through a rRT-PCR
(real-time reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction) test of swab
samples obtained from the nose or throat.

● Results can be obtained from within a

few hours to several days.
A PCR machine

● The complete COVID-19 genome has

been sequenced and published, allowing
other PCR tests to be developed.
How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
● Antigen tests:
● These tests confirm viral exposure
in the recent past.

● They do not test for the virus

directly.

● These tests typically involve a nasal A PCR machine

or throat swab, or a saliva test

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
● Antibody tests:

● These identify the presence of your

body’s antibodies against the virus,
which indicates that have been
exposed in the past.

● This is typically performed via a

blood test. A PCR machine
 Summary: The U.S. has
performed cumulative
tests equal to 22% of the
population, which is
more than many other
countries, and less than
a few.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
 Summary: The U.S.
has a much higher
rate of positive tests
than many other
countries that perform
widespread testing.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
Is COVID-19 fatal?
● The vast majority of cases are
mild.

● Mortality rates are estimated to

be 1-5%, but the data are very
uncertain.

● It is clear that older patients have

a significantly higher death rate.
Worldwide deaths due to COVID-19

Summary: The number of

deaths from COVID19
worldwide is increasing
linearly. There is no way to
know when the curve will
begin to flatten.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
on 4/6/2020
Summary: The most deaths
from COVID-19 so far have
occurred in the U.S., Brazil,
Mexico, and India.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
Summary: The greatest
death rates from COVID-19
are currently occurring in
South America, followed by
the U.S. and South
America.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
U.S. deaths due to COVID-19

The U.S. passed 200,000 cumulative

deaths on October 2nd, 2020.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
Graphic and data obtained from
https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
Cumulative deaths from
COVID-19 for every
county in the United
States.
Graphic and data obtained from
https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
Graphic and data obtained from
https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
How does COVID-19 compare to other viral diseases?

COVID-19 is
significantly more
deadly than the
seasonal flu, but
much less deadly
than MERS or Ebola.

Graphic and data obtained from

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus
What are the treatments?
● There is no vaccine. Work is underway to develop
one, but a vaccine is unlikely to be developed before
2021.
● There is no anti-viral treatment specifically for
COVID-19.

● Symptoms are managed using standard methods of

care for viral infections.

●Antibiotics, which only treat bacterial infections, are

not useful to treat COVID-19 or other viral diseases.
How is COVID-19 treated?
● Treatment depends on the stage of the illness.
● Most COVID infections do not require hospital
admission.
● Immune suppression (steroids) may help people at
certain stages of the disease.
● Anti-coagulation may help at certain stages.
● Antiviral drugs are in use as well such as
Remdesivir and Interferon.
How is COVID-19 treated?
● Remdesivir is a COVID-19 drug
developed by Gilead to treat
Hepatitis C and Ebola (both RNA
viruses)
Adenine
● Remdesivir mimics the RNA
base adenine (A)
● A key enzyme in the viral life
cycle cannot distinguish the drug
from the real base, which causes a
breakdown in viral reproduction.
Remdesivir
How is COVID-19 spread?
● The infection spreads
from person to person
via respiratory
droplets, usually
through coughing and
sneezing.
How is COVID-19 prevented?

Evidence shows that the

virus can be spread even
by people who show no
symptoms and seem
healthy but are actually
infected.
How can I protect myself?
• Sanitize: Wash hands thoroughly and
often with soap and water or alcohol-
based hand sanitizer.
• Social distancing: Stay more than 6 feet
away from other people.
• Avoid touching your face with
unwashed hands. Properly cover coughs
and sneezes.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and
mouth whenever you come within 6 feet
of another person.
• Monitor your symptoms and stay home
if you are feeling sick.
• Get your flu shot if you have not done so
already. Adapted from: American Society for Microbiology
Accessed at
https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2020/COVID-19-Resources
on 3/14/2020
https://www.who.int/brunei/news/infographics---english
Animated GIF:
How do I keep from spreading illness to others if I am sick?
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a
tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Regularly clean and disinfect
frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Call ahead to a healthcare professional
if you develop a fever and symptoms of
respiratory illness, such as cough or
difficulty breathing.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html accessed on 3/16/2020

What are the prospects for a vaccine?
• There are over 120 different
types currently in
development.
• No one can say with certainty
when a vaccine will be
widely available, although it
is likely to be in 2021.

Graphic obtained from

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01221-y
Take-home lessons
1. COVID-19 is an infectious disease of the human respiratory system
caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2.
2. The disease is almost always mild and causes fever, dry cough,
shortness of breath, and fatigue.
3. Older people and other at-risk populations may develop life-threatening
symptoms.
4. There is no vaccine or treatment.
5. Protect yourself by sanitizing, maintaining 6 feet of distance between
people, and avoiding people and places known to be infected.
Test your knowledge

Take this free online quiz to see how well

you understand the current outbreak (all
answers are found in this presentation):

http://bit.ly/COVID19quiz
Resources related to this presentation for
educators:
●Online Google Slides presentation: http://bit.ly/COVID19slides
●Contact SimonBiology@gmail.com if you’d like an editable
version of this PowerPoint
●Online Google Sheets quiz based on this presentation (for
educators to download and load into Blackboard):
http://bit.ly/COVID19slidesQuiz
●Online version of this quiz: http://bit.ly/COVID19quiz
●Kahoot: Search for “COVID19 SimonBiology”
Helpful resources
● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) page
● World Health Organization’s Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak page &
infographics page
● American Society for Microbiology’s Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page
● Primary research articles from The Lancet
● Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
● NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) blog “Coronavirus: What’s the Real Story?”
● Dr. Vanessa Monique’s Youtube Video “Coronavirus disease COVID-19” (9:51)
● Osmosis.org Youtube video “
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology”
(12:20)
● Gretel von Bargen’s extensive Google document with 208 slides on coronavirus.

● Our World in Data’s Coronavirus Disease statistics page.

● NIH NIAID Flickr account of COVID-19-related photos

Helpful articles (should be freely available)
● New York Times 3/12/2020: What Does Coronavirus Do to the Body?
● New York Times 3/11/2020: Flattening the Coronavirus Curve
● Washington Post 3/14/2020:
Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to “flatten the curve”

●https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-0771-4
●https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01221-y
●https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-clinical-trial-testing-remdesivir-
plus-interferon-beta-1a-covid-19-treatment-begins

●For a great Podcast about all things viral: “this week in virology”
●https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/
Questions/comments?
●Please contact SimonBiology@gmail.com with any suggested
changes to this presentation.

●Or maybe just drop me a note to let me know if you found this
useful!
COVID-19 This presentation summarizes important basic
information on the current pandemic. It was written for
high school and college non-science-major
students/teachers. Feel free to use, share, and send
suggestions for improvements.

SimonBiology@gmail.com
Eric J. Simon, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biology & Health Science
New England College, Henniker, NH

© This presentation is copyrighted (All Rights Reserved) by Eric J. Simon (2020).

This presentation may be freely distributed and used for educational purposes
provided that this title page and copyright statement are included.
All images included in this presentation are in the public domain.