COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The virus quickly spread globally, leading to a pandemic that disrupted daily life, healthcare systems, and economies worldwide. COVID-19 primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and can cause symptoms ranging from mild cold-like issues to severe pneumonia and death, particularly in vulnerable populations. Governments and health organisations responded with measures like lockdowns, mask mandates, and social distancing, while vaccines were developed at record speed to help curb the spread.