Yes, pandemic coronavirus are a very new phenomenon. Only a single one (SARS) has been observed before. However, its spread was contained early enough such that

Yes, pandemic coronavirus are a very new phenomenon. Only a single one (SARS) has been observed before. However, its spread was contained early enough such that its adaption to a large population was not observed. Even two of the four "common cold" coronaviruses (HKU1 and NL63) were discovered as late as 2004. Note that coronaviruses are completely unrelated to "the flu" (influenza).