Editing COVID-19 (section)

== SARS-CoV-2 virus ==

The virus infects cells by binding its spike protein to the cell's ACE-2 receptor. It creates a respiratory illness infecting the upper respiratory system and, in more severe case, the lower respiratory system as well. 

Infected hosts can be asymptomatic for two weeks before symptoms present themselves. Some hosts carry the virus without presenting symptoms at all.

Multiple variants developed as the virus evolved worldwide, with the most notable variants being Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron.

The original (Alpha) strain of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in Britain in November 2020, with cases exploding in December. The original strain was not as deadly as it was made to seem (0.5% of cases resulted in death), and most of those who were put on ventilators or died from the virus had compromised immune systems (those of old age, the obese, diabetics, or other comorbidities).

The Beta strain developed about a year later in late 2020 in South Africa, and, while less deadly, it proliferated about double the pace of the original strain. 

The Delta strain became dominant in the US in late 2020, soon after it was discovered in India. Delta became even more transmissible than Beta, but remained as deadly as the original.

With the Omicron variant emerging in South Africa and Botswana in November 2021, the virus became extremely transmissible and far less deadly than the original 0.5% of cases.

Thus, as many dissenting virologists, biologists, and journalists predicted, the virus turned into essentially a common cold or flu-like sickness.