Covid-19-Navigating the Uncharted

Fauci, Lane, and Redfield comment on the early clinical features and epidemiology of cases reported in Wuhan, China, along with current mortality data, noting that the outbreak is a stark reminder of the need for constant surveillance, prompt diagnosis, and robust research. The latest threat to global health is the ongoing outbreak of the respiratory disease that was recently given the name Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). Covid-19 was recognized in December 2019.(1) It was rapidly shown to be caused by a novel coronavirus that is structurally related to the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As in two preceding instances of emergence of coronavirus disease in the past 18 years(2) - SARS (2002 and 2003) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) (2012 to the present) - the Covid-19 outbreak has posed critical challenges for the public health, research, and medical . . .