• Is a positive sense, single stranded, enveloped RNA virus
• The name 'Coronavirus' refers to the crown-like (Latin: corona) viral envelope that can be seen with electron microscopy (see image below)
• Coronaviruses are a family of RNA viruses that infect many different species of animals including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. And humans, of course.
• They can cause respiratory illnesses in humans that include the common cold as well as more severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

"Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" by NIAID is licensed under CC BY 2.0