The new coronavirus began spreading in China during December 2019, but it has only now been officially named as Covid-19 by the World Health Organization
Source:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2233218-covid-19-the-new-coronavirus-now-officially-has-a-name/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home