What is SARS-CoV-2?

SARS-CoV-2 is a tiny virus that can make people sick, like when you catch a cold or the flu.

Imagine a soccer ball, bumpy and round. SARS-CoV-2 is kind of like that, but way smaller. You can't see it with your eyes, but if you had a super zoom lens, it would look like a tiny, bumpy ball made out of protein.

When someone sneezes or coughs near you, SARS-CoV-2 can travel through the air like invisible sprinkles. If one lands on your nose or mouth, it can sneak inside your body and start multiplying, just like how germs make your cut feel icky when you get a boo-boo.

Once inside your body, SARS-CoV-2 uses your cells to copy itself, which makes you feel tired, achy, or even feverish. It’s like having little helpers inside your body that are making more and more of themselves, and you can’t see them!

But don’t worry, just like how a cold goes away after a few days, most people get better too!