What is a coronavirus?

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as 

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)  

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

The scientific name for coronavirus is Orthocoronavirinae or Coronavirinae.

 Coronavirus belongs to the family of Coronaviridae.

Virus classificatione

(unranked): Virus
Realm:        Riboviria
Phylum           incertae sedis
Order:        Nidovirales
Suborder:       Cornidovirineae
Family:          Coronaviridae

Subfamilies and genera

Letovirinae
Alphaletovirus
Orthocoronavirinae
Alphacoronavirus
Betacoronavirus
Deltacoronavirus

Gammacoronavirus

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronaviridae