False: SARS-CoV-2 is just a mutated form of the common cold virus.

By: Ishita Goel
January 24 2022

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SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a newly discovered coronavirus. Its origin and effects are distinct from those of a regular cold. COVID-19 is a highly infectious, respiratory virus, which has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths globally since the first cases of the disease were discovered in 2020. It is distinct from the common cold, which typically causes mild symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) states the first human coronavirus was discovered in the mid-1960s. There are seven coronaviruses that could cause disease in humans. Out of which, four viruses are common human coronaviruses, namely 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1. The NCBI state that these are usually mild, upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. These viruses are frequently seasonal and are most prevalent in winter. There are three other human coronaviruses, namely MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV. MERS-CoV is the beta coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. SARS-CoV is the beta coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2. Human coronaviruses can contribute to 15–30 percent of cases of ''common colds in adults,'' as pathogens can cause upper respiratory tract diseases. In SARS-CoV-2, the pathogens "spreads from the upper airway to cause a severe lower respiratory tract infection." The common human coronaviruses mainly replicate in epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract, where they create a virus and cause local respiratory symptoms. It is untrue to state that SARS-CoV-2 is a mutated form of the cold. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.