This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance. Updated February 19, 2020 CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernexternal icon” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, 2020 WHO publiclyexternal icon characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

Background -- Source and Spread of the Virus -- Situation in U.S. -- Illness Severity -- Risk Assessment -- What May Happen -- CDC Response -- Highlights of CDC’s Response -- CDC Recommends -- Other Available Resources.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection