New Viral Infection COVID-19: Current Status, Challenges and Possible Treatments

Since December 2019, the prevalence of novel coronavirus infection (named as COVID- 19 by WHO on Feb 11, 2020) has become a growing healthcare concern worldwide. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. As no specific approved treatment options are available for the COVID-19 infection, several existing antiviral drugs in combination with others have become the mainstay therapy. The targets for the treatment of the infection include viral targets such as polymerases, spike glycoproteins, membrane proteins, and viral envelope and host targets such as host proteases and host receptors. Antiviral agents, immunomodulatory agents, and empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used as treatment therapies for the infection. Convalescent plasma therapy has also been proposed as an effective treatment for COVID-19. Additionally, many studies are ongoing to develop a potent and effective vaccine that completely blocks SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, prevention of spread of the virus remains the first and foremost step towards controlling and managing the coronavirus infection.