COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 [1]. The disease ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory illness and death [1].
Disease overview
COVID-19
新型冠状病毒感染
Evidence-backed informationEN 5/7 applicable sections · ZH 5/7 applicable sectionsUpdated Sep 3, 2026
COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in January 2020 and spread worldwide, resulting in a pandemic [1]. The World Health Organization declared it a global health emergency in March 2020 and declared the end of the emergency in May 2023 [1]. Post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) has a global pooled prevalence estimated at 43%, with fatigue being the most common symptom [2]. COVID-19 is associated with acute cerebrovascular disease, with unprecedented risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke related to SARS-CoV-2 infection [3].
Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile6
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell, and loss of taste, with onset one to fourteen days after exposure [1]. At least one-third of infected individuals do not develop noticeable symptoms, while of those with symptomatic infection, approximately 81% develop mild to moderate symptoms, 14% develop severe symptoms, and 5% develop critical symptoms [1]. Older people face higher risk of severe symptoms and death [1]. Some individuals experience persistent symptoms for months or years, including fatigue, cognitive issues, and shortness of breath [1]. Post-COVID-19 condition prevalence at 28+ days is estimated at 43% globally, with fatigue the most common symptom (23%) followed by memory problems (14%) [2]. COVID-19 is associated with cerebrovascular complications including both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke [3].
The disease spread globally starting in January 2020, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic [1]. Post-COVID-19 condition global pooled prevalence is estimated at 0.43 (95% CI 0.39–0.46) at 28+ days from infection, with higher prevalence in hospitalized (0.54) than nonhospitalized patients (0.34) [2]. Regional prevalence estimates are 0.51 for Asia, 0.44 for Europe, and 0.31 for the United States [2]. COVID-19 has been associated with significant shifts in epidemiology and healthcare practices [3].
COVID-19 transmission occurs when infectious particles are breathed in or come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth [1]. Risk is highest when people are close together, but small airborne particles can remain suspended in air and travel over longer distances, particularly indoors [1]. Transmission can also occur when people touch their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching contaminated surfaces or objects [1]. Outbreaks occurred in prisons due to crowding and inability to enforce adequate social distancing [1].
Social distancing (physical distancing) includes infection control actions such as quarantines, travel restrictions, and closures of schools, workplaces, stadiums, theatres, and shopping centres [1]. Individuals may apply social distancing by staying at home, limiting travel, avoiding crowded areas, using no-contact greetings, and physically distancing from others [1]. Modelling studies have been used to estimate the impact of interventions and inform prevention strategies [1].
- 1Wikipedia contributors. COVID-19 - Wikipedia [Internet]. Wikipedia. cited 3 Sept 2026.Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19
- 2Chen C et al. Global Prevalence of Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Condition or Long COVID: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Infect Dis. 2022 Nov 1. PMID: 35429399. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac136.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35429399/
- 3Siegler JE et al. Cerebrovascular Disease in COVID-19. Viruses. 2023 Jul 21. PMID: 37515284. doi: 10.3390/v15071598.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37515284/
- U07.1
- RA01
Coverage
Reporting countries and regions
Trends by reporting country
Monthly patterns over time
Research Radar
Recent related research
Implications for future pandemics from a living systematic review and critical evaluation of observational studies of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination against the Omicron variant
Vaccine
Timing, Titre, and Host Determinants of Convalescent Plasma Efficacy in COVID-19: A Systematic Review With Design-Stratified Narrative Synthesis.
Reviews in medical virology
Factors that impact on healthcare workers' adherence with infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines for COVID-19: a qualitative evidence synthesis.
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
2024–2025 BNT162b2 KP.2 COVID-19 full season vaccine effectiveness from vaccine registries linked to administrative claims in two states: A cohort study in non-immunocompromised adults
Vaccine
Convalescent Plasma Restores Viral Clearance After Anti-Spike Monoclonal Antibody Failure in Immunocompromised COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.
Reviews in medical virology
Showing 5 of 329 related publications.
Literature links are provided for discovery and do not alter or validate the surveillance series above.
Data access
Page dataset index with source links and update metadata.
Official sourcesAuthority, cadence, notes45
Australia NINDSS
Australia
Australian national notifiable diseases surveillance dashboard.
Australia NINDSS — Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Australian Capital Territory, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — New South Wales
New South Wales, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for New South Wales, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Northern Territory
Northern Territory, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Northern Territory, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Queensland
Queensland, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Queensland, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — South Australia
South Australia, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for South Australia, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Tasmania
Tasmania, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Tasmania, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Victoria
Victoria, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Victoria, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Western Australia
Western Australia, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Western Australia, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Switzerland FOPH IDD
Switzerland
Switzerland FOPH/BAG IDD mandatory reporting API normalized to national case rows. Monthly series may use the dashboard CHFL aggregate where CH-only monthly series are not exposed.
China CDC Weekly
China
Monthly notifiable infectious disease reports published by China CDC.
National Disease Control and Prevention Administration
China
Official China public health bulletin and query portal.
PubMed
China
Biomedical literature discovery feed used as supplementary context.
Public Health Science Data Center
Anhui, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Anhui, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Chongqing, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Chongqing, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Guangdong, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Guangdong, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Gansu, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Gansu, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Henan, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Henan, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Jiangsu, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Jiangsu, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Sichuan, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Sichuan, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Shandong, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Shandong, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Shanghai, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Shanghai, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Xinjiang, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Xinjiang, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Public Health Science Data Center
Zhejiang, China
Chinese province-level historical monthly observations; this higher-priority source overlays overlapping official monthly reports.
Provincial statutory infectious disease monthly report
Zhejiang, China
Province-level statutory infectious disease report published by the responsible health authority.
Finland THL Infectious Diseases Register
Finland
Finland THL Infectious Diseases Register national monthly case counts. The current month is ingested as provisional and the latest three months are refreshed for source revisions.
Hong Kong, China CHP Notifiable Diseases
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China CHP annual notifiable infectious disease CSVs normalized to national monthly totals
Iceland Directorate of Health Annual Dashboard
Iceland
National annual case notifications by disease. Published values can be revised retrospectively and remain annual period totals.
Iceland Directorate of Health STI Dashboard
Iceland
Monthly STI diagnosis facts from laboratory and registry surveillance; the official dashboard is published on a quarterly schedule.
Iceland Directorate of Health Respiratory Dashboard
Iceland
ISO-week respiratory diagnosis counts. Hospitalizations, samples, and vaccination indicators are separate measures and are not counted as diagnoses.
Iceland Directorate of Health Historical Registry
Iceland
Historical official registry tables for 1997–2021, with annual totals and disease-specific monthly notification facts retained at source grain.
Iceland Directorate of Health Legacy ICD Monthly
Iceland
Historical Saga EHR ICD encounter counts for 1997–2020. This clinical measure is non-comparable with registry notifications and is kept separate.
JP NIID Weekly
Japan
Japan weekly infectious disease surveillance via NIID/JIHS.
New Zealand PHF Science Monthly Notifiable Diseases
New Zealand
PHF Science (formerly ESR) monthly notifiable disease surveillance data via internal globalID2 crawler
Taiwan, China CDC NIDSS
Taiwan, China
Taiwan, China monthly notifiable infectious disease open-data CSV feed.