The new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19), discovered in December 2019, is a strain of viruses that can be categorized as a respiratory disease. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking.
COVID-19 affects people in different ways. People with the virus have had a wide range of symptoms reported including a fever, cough (typically dry), and shortness of breath. It is important to note the differences between the COVID-19 virus and other more common respiratory conditions that present with coughing, fever, etc. such as the flu, allergies (seasonal) or asthma.
The symptoms sometimes do not immediately show after exposure to the virus. An asymptomatic timer period of 2-14 days can occur during which a person can be infected with the virus and not show any symptoms.