COVID-19 : A Global Emergency and a Common Destiny between the Nations

Human coronaviruses (HCoV) are single-stranded RNA viruses. There are currently four so-called classic or new coronaviruses, which circulate in winter. They are the cause of moderate respiratory infections in the general population. However, infections can be more severe in susceptible populations. HCoVs are involved in 2 to 7 % of hospitalizations following a respiratory infection, in particular in children and the elderly or immunocompromised. Therefore, they belong to the panel of respiratory viruses sought during the routine diagnosis of respiratory infections using molecular biology tools. These so-called circulating coronaviruses are to be distinguished from the two emerging coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV and currently the pandemic caused by COVID-19, which are associated with more severe and fatal respiratory pathologies. They are distinguished from other HCoVs by their higher epidemic potential, their greater health impact and their atypical mode of circulation. Like paramyxoviruses and influenza viruses, coronaviruses should be monitored for their risk of emergence in the human population.