COVID-19: What do we know?

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by the pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1 Preliminary assessments suggest the virus is highly transmittable and infectious,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with similarities in nosocomial and super-spreading events seen with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) in 2003.8 Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 display a wide range of host responses including no symptoms, mild nonrespiratory symptoms, severe respiratory illness, or organ dysfunction and death.1,5 The American Association of Orthodontists Council on Scientific Affairs was charged with examining the literature to determine the best evidence for questions pertaining to COVID-19 and its impact on the practice of orthodontics.