The outbreak caused by the “severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2) distressed the Wuhan residents in December
2019. Many suffering the resultant “unknown pneumonia” were initially
admitted to Wuhan hospitals; the predominant symptoms included pyrexia,
malaise, dry cough, and sore throat. A fraction of the patients
reportedly suffered the complications which culminated in acute
respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, or multiorgan failure, and
death. By the end of January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO)
announced the outbreak as a public-health emergency and later, on March
11, declared the COVID-19 a pandemic. Interestingly, the Australian
government had declared COVID-19 as a “disease of pandemic potential”
on 21 January,1 ahead of WHO. By May 12, 2020,
confirmed cases worldwide2 had totaled 4,277,720 with
>50,000 new cases registered daily. Meanwhile, our
understanding of the pathogenesis, prognosis, symptoms, and
case-fatality rate of COVID-19 is still limited but growing
fast.3-11