The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Deadly Cornonavirus

This book presents a comprehensive account of the COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the novel coronavirus pandemic, as it happened. This volume examines the first responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contexts of earlier epidemics and the epidemiological basics of infectious diseases. Further, it discusses patterns in the spread of the disease; the management and containment of infections at the personal, national, and global level; effects on trade and commerce; the social and psychological impact on people; the disruption and postponement of international events; the role of various international organizations like the WHO in the search for solutions; and the race for a vaccine or a cure. Based on new data and latest developments, the second edition of this volume explores the global spread of COVID-19 since 2019 and examines the emergence of the evolving coronavirus variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron). Further, it extensively discusses what we have since discovered on the disease, along with recent progress on treatments and vaccines.