What is a coronavirus? Should I worry about my family and me? Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins, answers these and other commonly asked questions about coronavirus disease.
New Terms for 2019 Novel Coronavirus
On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the official name of the illness that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.
- The illness is now called COVID-19. “COVI” for coronavirus, “D” for “disease,” and “19” for the year when it was identified.
- The virus itself is now called SARS-CoV-2.
A new coronavirus, which originated in China in December 2019, has recently caused an outbreak of COVID-19, a respiratory illness. COVID-19 was designated by the World Health Organization a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has considerable expertise in the field of infectious diseases and experience with infection control of viruses like the new coronavirus. Our clinical teams have implemented screening procedures and are actively examining this continuously changing situation. Additionally, we are closely collaborating with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Maryland Department of Health to help ensure the well-being of our staff members, patients and visitors.
Learn More about Coronavirus Disease 2019
Featured Experts
Garibaldi, Brian Thomas, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Physiology
Director, Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit
Associate Program Director, Osler Internal Medicine Residency Program
Associate Professor of Physiology
Director, Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit
Associate Program Director, Osler Internal Medicine Residency Program
Hynes, Noreen A, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Geographic Medicine Center of the Division of Infectious Diseases
Medical Director, Tropical Medicine Ambulatory Consultation Service
Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Travel Health Consultation Service
Director, Geographic Medicine Center of the Division of Infectious Diseases
Medical Director, Tropical Medicine Ambulatory Consultation Service
Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Travel Health Consultation Service
Maragakis, Lisa Lockerd, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Senior Director of Infection Prevention, The Johns Hopkins Health System
Hospital Epidemiologist, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Senior Director of Infection Prevention, The Johns Hopkins Health System
Hospital Epidemiologist, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
