The coronavirus is defined by Oxford dictionary as: “any of a group of RNA viruses that cause a variety of diseases in humans and other animals.” The virus is named with the Latin prefix Corona, meaning crown, as under a microscope the virus appears to have a solar crown around it.

This virus comes in many forms, seven to be exact, these forms are then grouped into four subsections: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, based on their infectivity/severity to humans. The CDC has a list of the strains:

1. 229E (alpha coronavirus)
2. NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
3. OC43 (beta coronavirus)
4. HKU1 (beta coronavirus)
5. MERS-CoV (the beta coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS)
6. SARS-CoV (the beta coronavirus that causes a severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS)
7. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

These strains can mutate by infecting animals, making the coronavirus even more infectious and deadly. This is the case in late 2019 to early 2020 also known as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

First identified in Wuhan, China. The accused cause being open markets, where dead and live animals are sold in compact areas. This strain has infected over 7,000 people and has taken 170 lives.

Unlike other strains, the 2019 virus has spread to multiple regions including Australia, North America, the Middle East, Europe, and various Asian nations. The spread led to the quarantine of Wuhan, where nations are working to extract their citizens from China, and transportations are restricted.

With the ever-growing press coverage, it makes sense that an abundance of “fake news” and conspiracies have surfaced. Some people have even claimed an overpriced “miracle cure” made of minerals that when mixed creates a substance related to bleach. The bleach solution can have harmful effects and lead to death. 

Conspiracy theorists have claimed this is the release of a bioweapon from China. In an article in The Washington Times, there was suspicion that the virus was evolved in a Biological Weapons lab in Wuhan, There is currently no tangible evidence to back this up, but the Chinese government creating nationalistic propaganda stating this was an attack from America makes this event seem like a war grab.

For more information about the “fake news” spread regarding the Corona Virus, visit the BBC.