The novel coronavirus is the seventh coronavirus known worldwide and belongs to the genus Beta coronavirus, a protein-encapsulated single-stranded positive-stranded RNA virus. The common ancestor of the novel coronavirus and SARS and SARS-like coronaviruses is an HKU9-1 coronavirus parasitic on fruit bats. The natural host of the novel coronavirus is likely to be bats, and there is likely to be an unknown intermediate host vector for its transmission from bats to humans. The human population is generally susceptible to the novel coronavirus, which is mainly transmitted via respiratory droplets and has a strong chance of human-to-human transmission.