SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An overview

• Published in: Advances in biological regulation Vol. 77; p. 100736
• Main Authors: Acuti Martellucci, Cecilia, Flacco, Maria Elena, Cappadona, Rosaria, Bravi, Francesca, Mantovani, Lorenzo, Manzoli, Lamberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Age Factors; Betacoronavirus - pathogenicity; Communicable Disease Control - methods; Communicable Disease Control - organization & administration; Containment; Containment policies; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - mortality; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - mortality; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - transmission; Diagnostic systems; Diagnostic tests; Epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Italy - epidemiology; Lethality; Masks; Models, Statistical; Mortality; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Patient Isolation - methods; Patient Isolation - organization & administration; Physical Distancing; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - mortality; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; Quarantine - ethics; Quarantine - methods; Quarantine - organization & administration; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis; Viral diseases; Viruses; Italy; COVID-19; Containment policies; SARS-CoV-2; Epidemiology; Diagnostic tests; Mortality
• ISSN: 2212-4926; 2212-4934; 2212-4934
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2020.100736

By the end of May 2020, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused more than 350,000 deaths worldwide. In the first months, there have been uncertainties on almost any area: infection transmission route, virus origin and persistence in the environment, diagnostic tests, therapeutic approach, high-risk subjects, lethality, and containment policies. We provide an updated summary of the current knowledge on the pandemic, discussing the available evidence on the effectiveness of the adopted mitigation strategies.