SARS-Cov-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a highly infectious disease targeting the respiratory tract. It is an enveloped β-coronavirus coated with spike (S) glycoproteins, envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins. The virus is known to mutate over time resulting in several variants of concern (VOC).
Transmission of the virus is via respiratory droplets/aerosolization. The incubation period of the virus is 2-5 days but up to 14 days. The period of infectivity is typically 2 days prior to symptoms with a peak at approximately day 5 days but this varies from case to case.
Clinical manifestations vary greatly, ranging from asymptomatic or mild infection to severe disease. Most common symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, anosmia, ageusia or dysgeusia.
