COVID-19 stands for "coronavirus disease 2019." It is a highly infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread rapidly worldwide, leading to a global pandemic that has had a profound impact on public health, economies, and societies.
The symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and include fever, cough, fatigue, body aches, and loss of taste or smell. In some cases, the disease can lead to severe respiratory illness and death, especially in older adults and people with underlying health conditions.