On December 29, 2019, health authorities in China reported 27 cases of an unusual pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death linked to attendance at a live animal market in Wuhan. 1 ,  2  On January 7, 2020, Chinese scientists confirmed a novel coronavirus, 2019‐nCoV, as the causative agent. 3  Studies revealed >80% genetic homology of 2019‐nCoV with coronaviruses of bats, presumably the original host; pangolins, suggesting this animal sold at the market as an intermediate host; and another human coronavirus, SARS‐CoV, the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). 3 ,  4  All evidence indicates that SARS‐CoV‐2 is of animal and not laboratory origin. 5  The World Health Organization (WHO) later named the novel virus SARS‐CoV‐2 and the related disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). 2 ,  3  SARS‐CoV‐2 spread quickly through communities in China and other countries (Fig. 1). On January 20, 2020, the first case was recognized in the United State when a 35‐year‐old man presented to an urgent care clinic in Snohomish, Washington. 6 ,  7  On January 30, 2020, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On March 11, 2020, WHO designated COVID‐19 a pandemic. Almost all countries are implementing public health measures to prevent SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission and are marshaling clinical care for patients with COVID‐19. This review highlights key features of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, the epidemiology and clinical course of COVID‐19, and interventions to stop the growing COVID‐19 pandemic.