Coronavirus gets its name from the Latin word ‘Corona’, meaning crown or wreath because of the crown like protein spikes that cover the virus. Simply put, even when an infected person coughs, the droplets containing the virus can disperse and can affect anyone nearby. ALSO READ: Your guide on how to stay safe during the pandemicCovid-19 is a type of RNA virus. Another feature of RNA virus is that they are prone to mutations, which is how the virus can be transmitted to another species. However, since the Covid-19 virus is larger than most RNA virus and has a higher number of genes, the speed at which it mutates makes it easier to detect and cure.

Source: Hindustan Times July 24, 2020 07:23 UTC