Which virus is identified as the cause of COVID-19 infections?

The virus identified as the cause of COVID-19 infections is SARS-CoV-2. This novel coronavirus emerged in late 2019 and is highly contagious, leading to a global pandemic. Understanding this virus is crucial for both public health responses and individual health safety measures.

SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the coronavirus family, which also includes other viruses that can cause respiratory illnesses, such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, including its transmission routes and symptoms, have significant implications for how healthcare providers approach infection control and treatment.

Other options like Zika virus disease and rhinovirus pertain to different illnesses. Zika mostly affects the mosquito-borne disease related to birth defects, while rhinovirus is commonly associated with the common cold. "Covid bacilli" is not a recognized term or accepted classification in virology, as COVID-19 is specifically attributed to a viral infection and not bacterial.