Nordic Life Science 1
C O V I D -19 N DECEMBER 2019 the novel coronavir
us was detected in Wuhan, China, and on February 11th, the WHO named the disease caused by the new virus COVID-19. Both the virus and the disease were unknown before the outbreak began. The overwhelming majority of cases were initially concentrated in China, but the disease has now spread worldwide, and on March 11th, the outbreak was declared a pandemic. The latest estimates are that 80 percent of the people who get infected with the new coronavirus will experience a mild or moderate form of the disease. Roughly 15 percent will develop a severe form of the disease requiring hospitalization. Some 5 percent will become critically ill. The virus can spread from person to person, including spread by people who appear to have no symptoms. The WHO has stated that coronavirus can be transmitted through small qdroplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when an infected person coughs or exhales. According to Johns Hopkins, as of April 6th, there were 1 288 372 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in 181 countries, territories, or areas, and 70 482 people had lost their lives. The WHO has set up action plans for how to prepare and respond to this emergency, and some of these speak directly to the life science industries and their abilities to help. For example, ramping up lab testing so that those with the virus can be identified quickly and isolated safely, sharing knowledge and innovations to improve surveillance, prevention and treatment, and not least ensure equitable access for the poorest to all R&D breakthroughs. read more about nordic efforts and research to prevent, treat and eradicate the new coronavirus on page 24