COVID-19: New name, Updated case count

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

Nomenclature

There was some activity concerning the long awaited nomenclature for the 2019 novel coronavirus and it’s related disease.

On Tuesday, following WHO best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases, which were developed in consultation and collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO has named the disease

COVID-19, short for “coronavirus disease 2019.”

In addition, in a statement from the Coronavirus Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, which is responsible for developing the official classification of viruses and taxa naming (taxonomy) of the Coronaviridae family, formally recognizes this virus as a sister to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs) of the species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus and designates it as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

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China/Global case/death counts

The Chinese National Health Commission reported Tuesday an additional 2015 COVID-19 cases and 97 deaths.

As of February 11, according to reports from 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a total of 44,653 confirmed cases have been reported, including 1,113 deaths.

Globally, more than 45,000 cases have been reported from 28 countries.