Answer:
COVID-19, which is caused by the 2019 coronavirus, has been dominating the news. However, you may have first become familiar with the term coronavirus during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003.
Both COVID-19 and SARS are caused by coronaviruses. The virus that causes SARS is known as SARS-CoV, while the virus that causes COVID-19 is known as SARS-CoV-2. There are also other types of human coronaviruses.
Despite similar names, there are several differences between the coronaviruses that cause COVID-19 and SARS. Keep reading as we explore coronaviruses and how they compare to each other.
COVID-19 and SARS are similar in many ways. For example, both:
are respiratory illnesses caused by coronaviruses
are transmitted by respiratory droplets produced when a person with the virus coughs or sneezes or by contact with objects or surfaces containing the virus
have similar stability in the air and on various surfaces
can lead to potentially serious illness, sometimes requiring oxygen or mechanical ventilation
can have worseningTrusted Source symptoms later on in the illness
have similar at-risk groups, such as older adults and those with underlying health conditions
However, the two illnesses and the viruses that cause them are also different in several important ways.
