COVID-19: Prevention, Treatment and Vaccines

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19, the coronavirus disease is caused by a virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronaviruses are a large group of different viruses that may also cause the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

COVID-19 is a contagious airborne virus that can spread quickly within a home or community in spaces that are crowded and not well-ventilated. It most often causes symptoms in the lungs and respiratory tract and may resemble a cold, the flu or pneumonia.

Coughing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and fatigue commonly occur in mild cases, but a wide range of symptoms may occur. Some people have mild or no symptoms, while others can develop a severe illness that can lead to death. More recent variants have resulted in more upper respiratory symptoms similar to a cold, but high risk people can still be at risk of severe symptoms or death. Some people have also developed long-term symptoms after initial illness often referred to as “Long COVID”. 

Vaccination, as recommended by health authorities, can help to protect people from severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Reformulated, annual fall vaccines have been approved or authorized by the FDA to target more recent variants of the Omicron family strain.

When did COVID-19 start?

The COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and rapidly spread around the world. The virus caused a global pandemic in March 2020, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Most people in the U.S. or world had never gone through a pandemic of the magnitude of COVID-19. Initially, no vaccine or treatment was available. Safety measures were instituted in many countries, including: wearing a mask in public, lockdowns to help prevent viral spread, work and school from home, and gathering outside became the norm. Today, some of these social distancing practices still exist, even though the magnitude of the virus has subsided.

Over 7.1 million people have died from COVID-19 globally, with close to 1.2 million in the US, as of June 2025, according to WHO. Note: These numbers are subject to change based on official reporting to WHO.