The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is thought to have originated from a wet market in the city, where live animals were sold for food. The virus is thought to have spread from animals to humans, although the exact source is still under investigation.
The virus is thought to have spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, which are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can then be inhaled by others, or can land on surfaces and be transferred to other people through touching.
The virus has since spread to many countries around the world, leading to the current global pandemic. Health authorities are working to understand the virus and to develop treatments and vaccines to combat it.