Difference Between Covid-19 and Coronavirus


Covid-19 and coronavirus are terms that have become synonymous with the ongoing global pandemic. However, it is essential to understand that these two terms are not interchangeable. While both refer to the same disease, there are some critical differences between Covid-19 and coronavirus that everyone should be aware of.

What is Covid-19?

Covid-19 is the name for new coronavirus, which was initially discovered in Wuhan in China in late 2019.

  • Countries in which cases have occurred − The covid-19 disease has now been declared a pandemic by the WHO since it has spread to every continent. The first place that instances were identified in was China, however the viral illness has spread globe mostly owing to individuals travelling.

  • Type of illness caused − Covid-19 produces a peculiar sort of pneumonia that substantially impairs a person’s capacity to breathe. A dry cough rather than a wet one, a high temperature, and excessive exhaustion are all signs of this. Fibrosis of the lungs can make breathing difficult. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and ultimately multiple organ failure and death, can occur.

  • Structure of virus − The covid-9 virus has a crown-shaped appearance with E and M proteins on the outermost surface. The polypeptides known as nsp3 ADP ribose phosphate, nsp15 endonuclease, and nsp9 replicase have also been identified as viral proteins that aid in viral replication.

  • How contagious and deadly − Covid-19 is a virus that is more infectious than the flu virus but less contagious than the measles virus. The letter Ro is used to represent an estimate of the infection rate. This illustrates how many new cases of illness can develop from only one carrier. Recent studies suggest that Ro = 3.28 for covid-19. According to the World Health Organization, the average death rate is now around 3.4%, however this varies by age group. This indicates that each individual can infect an average of 3.28 additional persons.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a pandemic in which a virus is causing respiratory sickness and killing more people than the typical seasonal flu.

  • Genetics and origin of the coronavirus − The covid-19 coronavirus seems to have emerged originally in China, where it spread from an animal to a person. The specific host animal from which the virus originated is still up for contention. It has been discovered to be comparable to the SARS coronavirus, a single-stranded RNA virus with glycoproteins on its outer surface.

  • Symptoms and complications − A high temperature and a dry cough are the most noticeable and noticeable signs of covid-19 infection. However, the infection can cause serious lung damage in some patients, which can make breathing extremely difficult. This results in a lack of oxygen in the blood, which can lead to cardiac issues or failure of numerous organs. Age and health factors affect death rates, yet even young, seemingly healthy people might pass away.

  • Diagnosis − A human sample can be tested using RT-PCR. Some nations now offer drive- through testing locations where anyone may pull up and have a sample taken for testing. The test is effective because it confirms a diagnosis by checking for the virus's unique genetic coding.

  • Transmission − It is believed that the coronavirus known as covid-19 is a zoonosis that was accidentally spread from an animal host to people. Human to human transmission then happened.

  • Risk factors and mortality − Mixing with infected people increases your risk, although you won't notice any signs for a time. While treating patients with covid-19, medical personnel are likewise at danger. Because of this, several nations have adopted policies of social isolation in an effort to lessen interpersonal contact. The largest fatalities occur amongst those older than 70 years and who have other ailments. Diabetes and heart disease appear to enhance the risk of covid-19 problems and mortality.

  • Treatment − Pain relievers are used to manage the symptoms, and the patient may also require fluids to help with the dehydration brought on by the fever, as well as supplementary oxygen for any breathing issues. In really severe circumstances the person may need to be on a ventilator to support breathing.

Differences: Covid-19 and Coronavirus

The following table highlights the major differences between Covid-19 and Coronavirus −

Characteristics

Covid-19

Coronavirus

Definition

Covid-19 is the name given to a kind of coronavirus found in 2019.

Coronavirus is the name used to denote a group of viruses in the family Coronaviridae.

Type of illness

Pneumonia is a common complication of a lower respiratory infection brought on by Covid-19.

A coronavirus can produce a disease that varies from a typical cold to more serious respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

How contagious

The covid-19 virus has a Ro =3.28 at the current moment.

Different coronaviruses have different levels of contagiousness; for example, SARS has a Ro value of 3.00, whereas covid-19 has a Ro value of 3.28, and MERS has a Ro value of 8.00.

How deadly

At the moment, the mortality rate for covid-19 is around 3.4%.

The fatality rate of coronavirus varies by type from 3.4% with covid-19 to 9.6% with SARS, and up to 34% with MERS.

How much time for 1000 cases

It takes roughly 48 days for there to be 1000 cases of covid-19 based on available statistics.

There is a variety of time to achieve 1000 cases, with coronaviruses depending on the kind; it takes 48 days with covid-19, 130 days with SARS, and 2.5 years with MERS.

Conclusion

Covid-19 and coronavirus are two distinct terms that refer to the same disease. Covid-19 is the specific disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while coronavirus is a broad term that encompasses several different strains of the virus. Understanding the differences between these two terms is crucial in effectively combating the spread of the disease and managing its impact on public health.

Updated on: 17-Apr-2023

98 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started
Advertisements