Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • The European Super League is announced
    • REVIEW: An Evening with Sally Wainwright
    • Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature
    • REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford
    • Podcasts Prevail During Lockdown
    • 10 Ways to Improve Your Revision
    • REVIEW: Beauty Subscription Boxes
    • Managing Your Mental Health in Lockdown
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021

      FCA warning : Young Investors at Risk

      April 5, 2021

      What?! Bangor University burned down two weeks ago?!

      April 1, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      REVIEW: An Evening with Sally Wainwright

      April 18, 2021

      Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature

      April 17, 2021

      REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford

      April 17, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      10 Ways to Improve Your Revision

      April 16, 2021

      REVIEW: Beauty Subscription Boxes

      April 16, 2021

      Managing Your Mental Health in Lockdown

      April 16, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

      April 15, 2021

      #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance

      April 8, 2021

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      March 23, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Discovery»Science»What is coronavirus?
    Science

    What is coronavirus?

    Fergus ElliottBy Fergus ElliottMarch 3, 2020Updated:March 6, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Photo by Macau Photo Agency
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    In the last few days of 2019, a new virus appeared in Wuhan, China, and spread at a frightening pace. Since then the new coronavirus, which has since been given the official designation Covid-19, has been the subject of headlines all over the world. But what is this new illness, where did it come from, and how worried should you be?
    Covid-19 is a member of the coronavirus family, named after the likeness of their appearance to the sun’s corona under a microscope. The coronavirus family also includes influenza and the viruses that cause the common cold. Covid-19 has been referred to as a ‘novel coronavirus’ as it has not before been seen in humans. This means that there is no pre-existing immunity or resistance in the population, no existing vaccines, and as it is a viral infection antibiotics have no use. This has all contributed to its rapid spread to 25 countries at the time of writing. Like the flu, Covid-19 is spread between humans in droplets from coughs and sneezes, although the time taken to spread person-to-person is longer. The World Health Organisation is advising people to wash their hands frequently and to cover their mouths and nose while sneezing and coughing.
    Coronaviruses are introduced to the human population from animals, and Covid-19 is no different. Many of the people initially infected worked at or regularly visited a seafood market in Wuhan, and it is thought that an animal here first passed the virus to humans. There is much debate on the exact animal that carried the virus, but it is widely agreed that the virus is of natural origin; rumours of weaponized viruses being leaked from a nearby facility have been dismissed as hearsay.
    Covid-19 attacks the lung cells by using protein spikes to latch on to receptors in the cell wall. The symptoms of Covid-19 are relatively mild in most people, with most experiencing similar symptoms to a winter flu. Those more susceptible to respiratory infections such as the elderly or very young can develop more serious conditions such as pneumonia and in the very worst cases organ failure can occur. These cases are not the majority though; most of the people who have died were already in poor health when they acquired the virus. The mortality rate of Covid-19 is around 2% at the centre of the outbreak, compared to less than 1% for the flu and 10% for the SARS outbreak of the early 2000s. As a general rule, the more easily a virus spreads the less deadly its effects.
    Covid-19 is a serious issue and should be treated as such, however widespread panic and hysteria is not warranted. Most of those who have contracted the virus were in China during the time of the outbreak, and quarantine measures imposed on returning travellers have prevented widespread infection. Follow the advice given by medical bodies and the likelihood of you coming to harm is low.
    If you feel unwell and have returned from an affected area in the last 14 days, contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Fergus Elliott

    Science Editor | 19-20

    Related Posts

    How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

    April 15, 2021

    #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance

    April 8, 2021

    Bangor scientists breed the extinct Welsh dragon

    April 1, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Related/Similar Articles
    • Update on COVID cases, statistics, and restrictions in Wales
      Update on COVID cases, statistics, and restrictions in Wales
      February 16, 2021
    • Plans to Ease Lockdown Over Christmas Axed Across Wales
      Plans to Ease Lockdown Over Christmas Axed Across Wales
      December 19, 2020
    • Digital Sex and Unwanted Celibacy: How Sex Was…
      Digital Sex and Unwanted Celibacy: How Sex Was Reimagined During the Pandemic
      January 15, 2021
    • 2020: A Year of Food News in Review
      2020: A Year of Food News in Review
      December 27, 2020
    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.