The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, originating in Wuhan, China, is rapidly and continuously spreading globally and can result in serious significant respiratory morbidity and mortality [1]. The responsible agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an enveloped RNA virus of the Coronaviridae virus family. Human-to-human transmission occurs through respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces [1]. The average incubation period is 5 days, but ranges from 1 to 14 days. Most patients present with mild respiratory tract infection, most commonly characterised by fever (82%) and cough (81%). Severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been described in 14% of the reported cases, and the overall mortality is around 2% [2]. However, these numbers are evolving as the pandemic spreads, and depend on the country involved.