Coronapandemien

Coronapandemien is the global outbreak of disease caused by a novel coronavirus, first identified in late 2019, that led to sustained worldwide transmission and prompted a major international public health response. The disease caused by the virus is commonly referred to as COVID-19.

The virus, SARS-CoV-2, belongs to the betacoronavirus genus and is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets and aerosols, with possible asymptomatic spread.

The earliest known infections were reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Genomic sequencing quickly established a new coronavirus closely related to other human coronaviruses. The virus mutates and gives rise to variants with differing transmissibility and clinical profiles.

By early 2020, international spread led the World Health Organization to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and later a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Governments implemented travel restrictions, testing and contact tracing, mask mandates, and social distancing measures. Health systems faced surges in hospitalizations, particularly in intensive care units.

The illness ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia and multi-organ failure. Case fatality rates varied by age and comorbidity. Treatments improved over time, including corticosteroids and antiviral therapies. Vaccines were developed rapidly and became central to reducing severe disease and mortality.

Global vaccination campaigns began in late 2020, with inequities in access and distribution. The pandemic accelerated advances in vaccinology, genomics, and digital surveillance, and led to lasting changes in public health preparedness, remote work, and health communication.