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Where do coronaviruses come from?

Coronaviruses are often found in bats, cats and camels. The viruses live in but do not infect the animals. Sometimes these viruses then spread to different animal species. The viruses may change (mutate) as they transfer to other species. Eventually, the virus can jump from animal species and begins to infect humans. In the case of COVID-19, the first people infected in Wuhan, China are thought to have contracted the virus at a food market that sold meat, fish and live animals. Although researchers don't know exactly how people were infected, they already have evidence that the virus can be spread directly from person to person through close contact.

What's different about the delta variant of COVID-19?

It's normal for viruses to mutate — especially coronaviruses and influenza viruses. These mutations create new variants of the virus. Sometimes the variants are less contagious, less severe or have slightly different presenting symptoms. Unfortunately, the delta variant of COVID-19 (a strain called B.1.617.2) is more highly contagious and more likely to result in severe illness.