INTRODUCTION oronavirus has aroused echoes of SARS-CoV after twenty years. It was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China where a swarm of pneumonia cases were reported of undetermined origin in December 2019. After variety of researches, corona virus was isolated. This virus is less virulent yet similar to SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). It mostly affects the elderly and the ones with underlying health condition. Novel coronavirus 2019 is zoonotic in origin as this reservoir has previously been the cause of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, too. As it emerged from the live animal markets which are famous in Wuhan, the cause can be a widespread animal source present at the market e.g. bats, snakes, dogs, rabbits etc. The series of symptoms included respiratory distress, fever, cough etc. Coronavirus is an airborne microorganism, which is highly contagious. 1 The arrival of coronavirus has posed disputes and challenges in medical and dental hospitals. The maintenance of infection and disease control is necessary to carry out emergency care. Dentists have been advised to take several protective and preventive care measures. Minimizing procedures that produce aerosols, spatters or droplets is needed in order to prevent infection. This article is based on our knowledge about the virus, research and experience of infection control in dentistry. WHAT IS COVID-19? Coronavirus belongs to the coronavirinaesub virus in the Nidovirus super family which is commonly known for causing lung infections, nasopharyngeal diseases, fever etc. This virus family primarily was of animal origin but now has local human to human spread. 1-2 The diagnosis is based on the symptoms and history of the patient. Coronavirus is a single positive strand RNA virus with mutation rate higher than DNA virus. It causes upper respiratory tract infections with severity rate of 5%-15%. 3 Coronavirus is transmitted by symptomatic patients, via respiratory droplets from infected patient to others, directly or indirectly on surfaces that come in contact. Primarily, the transmission is animal to human contact. The possibility of respiratory droplets to infect a person is less if the person is two meters. Members of coronavirus families causes a broad range of diseases in animals and humans. Since, coronavirus is an airborne pathogen, it can stay up to hours in any surface leading to increase human-human spread. Thus, self-isolation is advised in order to control this disease. 4 1. House Officer at DIEKIOHS, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. 2. House Officer at DIEKIOHS, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Corresponding author: “Dr. Ayesha Aziz” < ayesha.aziz13@yahoo.com > S53 C SHORT COMMUNICATION With the high rate of transmission, novel coronavirus is a strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome i.e. SARS-CoV-2, which was first reported in Wuhan, China in December, 2019, hence it is known as COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus as a pandemic, because of its global spread. Coronavirus is an airborne pathogen which is extremely contagious and typically presents with respiratory distress as one of the common symptoms. Although, the transmission is through animal contact primarily but now the virus has mutated and is capable of spreading via human transmission routes. The increased spread has invoked different responses from all over the world. Cross infection between patient and the dental professional is excessive because of the general characteristics of a dental set up, due to which routine dental procedures have been suspended throughout the world. The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends to facilitate urgent and emergency visits only, postponing elective dental care. To provide emergency services, infection control methods should be as effective as possible. KEYWORDS: Coronavirus, infection control, dentistry. HOW TO CITE: Aziz A, Hassan SZ. The emerging obstacles in dentistry and coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). J Pak Dent Assoc 2020;29(S):S53-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25301/JPDA.29S.S53 Received: 04 May 2020, Accepted: 07 June 2020 The Emerging Obstacles in Dentistry and Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Ayesha Aziz 1 BDS, RDS Syed Zahid Hassan 2 BDS, RDS J Pak Dent Assoc (Special Supplement 2020)