Elsevier established a free COVID-19 resource center in January 2020, offering information in English and Mandarin. The center grants permission for free access to its research in PubMed Central and other repositories. The study excluded patients not discharged by the end of the study period, which may introduce slight bias but provides a representative sample of early cases. Viral shedding data from patients showed a median of 20 days, with survivors shedding the virus longer than non-survivors. These findings are similar to those of SARS and MERS coronaviruses. PCR positivity does not always indicate viable virus, so more research is needed on viral load and shedding. The WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic in March 2020. The WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards (STAG-IH) recommended increased preparedness and response actions, including case finding, contact tracing, and public health measures. Countries should implement a combination of containment and mitigation strategies, including social distancing and health system preparedness. Lower-income countries require technical and financial support. The virus has not significantly mutated, and transmission is primarily through close contact. Asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission is a concern. The pandemic has led to a new stage with rapid spread outside China. STAG-IH recommends robust preparedness, a combination of response measures, active surveillance, and support for lower-income countries. Research gaps include understanding the natural history of infection, quarantine strategies, ethical frameworks, point-of-care diagnostics, and infection control in resource-constrained settings. The WHO emphasizes the importance of rapid data sharing and collaboration among health professionals. A feminist economic agenda is proposed to address gender inequality and the interdependence of health and the economy.Elsevier established a free COVID-19 resource center in January 2020, offering information in English and Mandarin. The center grants permission for free access to its research in PubMed Central and other repositories. The study excluded patients not discharged by the end of the study period, which may introduce slight bias but provides a representative sample of early cases. Viral shedding data from patients showed a median of 20 days, with survivors shedding the virus longer than non-survivors. These findings are similar to those of SARS and MERS coronaviruses. PCR positivity does not always indicate viable virus, so more research is needed on viral load and shedding. The WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic in March 2020. The WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards (STAG-IH) recommended increased preparedness and response actions, including case finding, contact tracing, and public health measures. Countries should implement a combination of containment and mitigation strategies, including social distancing and health system preparedness. Lower-income countries require technical and financial support. The virus has not significantly mutated, and transmission is primarily through close contact. Asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission is a concern. The pandemic has led to a new stage with rapid spread outside China. STAG-IH recommends robust preparedness, a combination of response measures, active surveillance, and support for lower-income countries. Research gaps include understanding the natural history of infection, quarantine strategies, ethical frameworks, point-of-care diagnostics, and infection control in resource-constrained settings. The WHO emphasizes the importance of rapid data sharing and collaboration among health professionals. A feminist economic agenda is proposed to address gender inequality and the interdependence of health and the economy.