Novel Coronavirus Officially Named

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

The 2019 novel coronavirus has been officially named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The group noted the virus's genetic similarity to the SARS virus from 2002-3 but said there may be differences in disease spectrum and transmission.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization announced that the name of the illness from novel coronavirus is COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease. International guidance recommends against naming a disease after a specific geographic region, animal, or group of people to avoid stigmatization.

In other coronavirus news:

• China has surpassed 1000 deaths from COVID-19. Over 42,000 people in China have confirmed illness.

• The 13th U.S. coronavirus case was identified in a traveler quarantined in California after recent travel to Wuhan, China. Although initially hospitalized for coronavirus symptoms, the patient was released after early tests were negative for the virus. A subsequent test was positive. The patient has returned to the hospital and is in isolation.

• WHO officials said the first vaccine for the coronavirus could be available in 18 months.