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ASK WCMQ
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The coronavirus pandemic has swept the world and left many anxious and searching for answers. There is still a lot that scientists are working to discover, but here we answer some of the most common questions about the virus and how it affects you, your family, and life in Qatar.
What is a coronavirus? What is the 2019 novel coronavirus? How is it different from other coronaviruses?
Four types of human coronaviruses cause the common cold in humans. However, there are other coronaviruses that infect other animal species. Sometimes these animal coronaviruses evolve and enter the human population. When these are identified for the first time in humans, they are called a new, or novel, coronavirus. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as a cause of respiratory infection in people in Wuhan, China, and it is now known as 2019 novel coronavirus or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Other examples of novel coronaviruses have included MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus) and SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus).
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Source: https://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/coronavirus/