Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses many of which cause no or minor illnesses, like the common cold. Some cause illness in people, and others only infect animals. Usually, these infections do not cross over from animals to people.
On rare occasions, coronaviruses that infect animals “change” and develop the ability to infect people. This has occurred with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) where the causative viruses were probably initially infections of bats. The new (novel) coronavirus was probably also an infection of bats but is now able to infect people. The new (novel) coronavirus is officially called Coronavirus Disease-2019 or COVID-19 (because it was first detected in 2019).

COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, linked to a live animal market. This virus is now able to infect humans and can spread from person to person:

- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)
- Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and are inhaled into the lungs of a person nearby.

- Possibly through touching an infected person who has touched their own mouth and nose which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.

Symptoms include:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

The symptoms may appear from 2−14 days (incubation period) after contact with an infected person and may range from mild to severe illness.
Testing is performed on a blood sample in specialized laboratories. Currently, testing can be done in 16 laboratories in Africa including in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Soon, more laboratories in Africa will be able to test for the virus including in South Sudan, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

There are no specific drugs to treat COVID-19 infection. People who are sick should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.

Fourteen (14) percent of confirmed cases are severe, with serious pneumonia and shortness of breath. Another 5% of patients develop respiratory failure and critical illness. About 2.3% of confirmed cases have resulted in death.
Therefore, the vast majority of confirmed cases have a mild infection, with cold-like symptoms and mild pneumonia. It is not known why some people suffer more from the virus than others, but those who have developed serious illness tend to be those with underlying diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, or cancer.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. The only way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Everyday preventive actions include:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay at home if you are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then properly dispose of the tissue.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Alternatively, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands first with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.