The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been spreading globally after it was first reported in December in Wuhan, China.The disease presents symptoms in its respiratory tract, and can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia. Individuals with weakened immune systems, children and the elderly are at a heightened risk.The number of reported cases has risen to over 80,000 worldwide and the death toll is around 3,000, making the mortality rate about 3%. For reference, the average influenza mortality is less than 1% and the Sars outbreak in 2003 had a mortality rate of 10%.The majority of deaths have be…