<human>:  What is the history of the coronavirus?
<bot>: The Coronavirus is a family of viruses that have been known to cause respiratory illnesses in humans and animals. The virus that caused the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 disease is a novel strain of the virus that was first identified in Wuhan, China in late 2019. The Chinese government took immediate steps to control the spread of the virus, but it has since spread to other countries around the world. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease a global pandemic in March 2020. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus and preventative measures are focused on curbing the spread of the virus through personal hygiene and social distancing.