Coronaviruses are a family of viruses, such as the common cold, that can cause respiratory illness in humans. They are called “corona” due to the crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus. The latest strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in December 2019 and is also known as COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 has consistently mutated over the course of the pandemic, resulting in variants that are different from the original COVID-19 virus, which is why COVID-19 has not yet disappeared. For example, the latest covid subvariant is called EG.5.1 (AKA “Eris”) and remains the world’s most prevalent coronavirus strain. For more info, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.