WLA VA:COVID19

Introduction

Coronaviruses are a common human pathogens (discovered in the1960s to cause the common cold).
- During epidemics, they are the cause of up to one-third of community-acquired upper respiratory tract infections in adults; may cause diarrhea in infants and children as well)
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus (a new strain not previously identified in humans)
- Likely primary source = bats
- A betacoronavirus in the same subgenus as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus
- Receptor-binding gene region is very similar to that of the SARS coronavirus (uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE2] for cell entry)
- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus, another betacoronavirus, appears more distantly related
Viral survival time of SARS-CoV-2:
- Stainless steel: persists for 3 hours (or longer)
- Underscores the importance of environmental cleaning / disinfection
  - Cleaning gets rid of the proteins that would interfere with a disinfectants effectiveness
- Note: studied in a simulated lab environment. Lab virions not covered in protein and mucus and other things that would mimic real life and that could prolong survival

Authors: