The article reviews the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It outlines the key events of the outbreak, the characteristics of the virus, the symptoms of infected patients, transmission pathways, and the origin and evolution of the virus. The virus is believed to have originated from bats, with pangolins possibly acting as an intermediate host. The article also discusses the current understanding of the virus's genetic makeup and its potential for human-to-human transmission. It highlights the challenges in controlling the spread of the virus, including the possibility of asymptomatic transmission. The article also reviews the development of chemotherapeutic options for treating SARS-CoV-2, including drugs such as chloroquine and remdesivir, which have shown antiviral activity in vitro. The article concludes with a call for further research into the virus's origin, the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs, and the implementation of effective preventive measures to control its spread.The article reviews the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It outlines the key events of the outbreak, the characteristics of the virus, the symptoms of infected patients, transmission pathways, and the origin and evolution of the virus. The virus is believed to have originated from bats, with pangolins possibly acting as an intermediate host. The article also discusses the current understanding of the virus's genetic makeup and its potential for human-to-human transmission. It highlights the challenges in controlling the spread of the virus, including the possibility of asymptomatic transmission. The article also reviews the development of chemotherapeutic options for treating SARS-CoV-2, including drugs such as chloroquine and remdesivir, which have shown antiviral activity in vitro. The article concludes with a call for further research into the virus's origin, the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs, and the implementation of effective preventive measures to control its spread.