Kovid

Kovid is a term sometimes used to refer to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In formal health literature, the disease is called COVID-19 and the virus SARS-CoV-2; Kovid is a transliteration variant found in some languages and media. It is not recognized as a separate pathogen or disease entity by major health authorities, and its use generally denotes the same illness.

COVID-19 emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. The causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, is a novel betacoronavirus related to other coronaviruses that infect humans. The disease was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020.

Global spread led WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The outbreak caused substantial illness, mortality, and disruption to health systems, economies, and daily life worldwide. Public health responses included non-pharmaceutical measures, testing, contact tracing, and later, vaccination campaigns.

Vaccines against COVID-19 were developed rapidly and have been deployed worldwide, with multiple platforms such as mRNA, viral vector, and inactivated vaccines. Treatments for established infection include antivirals, monoclonal antibodies in certain contexts, and supportive care. Preparedness and genomic surveillance have tracked variants of concern, including notable lineages that altered transmissibility or immune escape.

As of the mid-2020s, COVID-19 remains circulating globally, with regional waves and ongoing vaccination programs, booster campaigns, and tailored public health strategies intended to reduce severe disease and death.