COVID-19 is not a virus but a bacterial infection.

COVID-19 is caused by a virus called coronavirus that causes upper-respiratory tract illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.

COVID-19 is caused by a virus called coronavirus that causes upper-respiratory tract illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.There are hundreds of coronaviruses, most of which circulate among animals such as pigs, camels, bats, and cats. Sometimes those viruses jump and spread among humans and can cause diseases. Seven known coronaviruses have emerged so far, out of which four causes mild to moderate infections in people. The three known coronaviruses are SARS coronavirus, the MERS coronavirus, and the SARS-CoV-2- which caused Covid-19 is known to be deadly.

SARS-Cov-2 emerged from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Scientists have been studying the disease and its cause for months now. The analysis of full-length genome sequences obtained from infected patients showed that SARS-CoV-2 is similar to previous coronaviruses SARS or MERS. It uses the same cell entry receptor. The studies have thus confirmed that Covid-19 has evolved from a virus and not bacteria.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.