The history of coronaviruses as human pathogens dates back to the mid-1960s, when they were first isolated from respiratory tract samples extracted from adults with symptoms of the common cold. Currently, seven types of coronavirus are known to infect humans.

The current healthcare crisis forces us to reflect on the way to act, the resources available to science, or the importance of good communication.

Knowing the detailed genomes of viruses and their phylogenies allows us to understand the origin of the outbreak. Was it a zoonosis from bats or were other hosts involved? Where did this fatal transition occur? What is the rate of change of the virus?

Gema Revuelta, Ángela Bernardo, Margarita del Val, and Salvador Macip offer their opinion on the media coverage of the pandemic.

Let us look at the coronavirus outbreak in China. Dissemination of accurate and well-interpreted information is key in the early stages of an emerging outbreak.

Fernando González Candelas, Full Professor of Genetics at the University of Valencia, explains how the virus affects children.