COVID-19

About COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory infection.

It is caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

There are many subtypes, or variants, of SARS-CoV-2. Variants are monitored for their ability to spread more easily or cause more severe illness.

COVID-19 symptoms can be mild to severe. Most people recover within a few days, but some people are at greater risk of getting severely unwell.

Some people, including those with mild or no symptoms, might have longer-term effects after having COVID-19. This is known as long COVID (or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19).