Overview of the main clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Relevance SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2) is a enveloped single-stranded (+) RNA virus. First identified in late 2019, it causes a dangerous, highly contagious infectious disease, COVID-19. In Kazakhstan, the first case of COVID-19 infection was registered on March 13, 2020. The detection and spread of the emerging respiratory pathogen is accompanied by uncertainty about its key epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics and, in particular, its ability to spread in the population and virulence (ratio of incidence and severity). However, to date, scientists have established the presence of multiple mutations in translatable and non-translatable regions of the coronavirus genome worldwide. Mutation of the virus genome and the spread of new strains of the virus are still ongoing. Understanding and monitoring the genetic evolution of the virus, its geographic characteristics and stability is particularly important to control the spread of the disease and especially to develop a universal vaccine covering all circulating strains. As with many new respiratory pathogens, the basic epidemiological, clinical parameters of the virus and the dynamics of the outbreak are unknown. Factors influencing the course of COVID-19 and the development of complications, also affecting the disease burden, have also not been studied.