Abstract
COVID‑19 has swept through mainland China by human‑to‑human transmission. The rapid spread of SARS‑CoV‑2 and its variants, including the currently prevalent Omicron strain, pose a serious threat worldwide. The present review summarizes epidemiological investigation and etiological analysis of genomic, epidemiological, and pathological characteristics of the original strain and its variants, as well as progress in diagnosis and treatment. Prevention and control measures used during the current Omicron pandemic are discussed to provide further knowledge of SARS‑CoV‑2.