The recent global pause during COVID-19 pandemic was caused due to:

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). Hence, option 2 is correct.
• It led to a global health crisis starting in late 2019, causing widespread lockdowns, economic slowdowns, and disruptions across the world.
• The disease it caused was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Additional Information

• H5N1: This is the avian influenza (bird flu) virus, not related to COVID-19.
• SARS-CoV-1: This was the virus responsible for the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, not the recent pandemic.
• MERS-CoV-2: There is no MERS-CoV-2; MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) caused the MERS outbreak in 2012.