Opplæringskontoret for Indre Hordaland

COVID-19

COVID-19, short for “Coronavirus Disease 2019,” is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread worldwide, leading to a global pandemic. COVID-19 primarily spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and muscle aches, among others. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death, particularly among older individuals and those with underlying health conditions. Preventative measures include wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, hand hygiene, and vaccination. The pandemic has had significant social, economic, and health impacts globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and later characterized it as a pandemic in March 2020.