The definite article before "coronavirus"

[Rachel Adams]

Should I use "the" before "coronavirus" or is it optional?
Is it compulsory in other contexts? For example, "She was diagnosed with coronavirus."

1. "Almost all news lately has been about the coronavirus."

 

[Rover_KE]

To me, it's like 'flu' — some say 'My son Marmaduke's gone down with the flu', and others say 'I haven't had flu for years'.

There's nothing compulsory about it.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's optional. In the UK, most people say "Covid" rather than "coronavirus" and there's definitely no article before that.
Talking of articles, I'd open with "Almost all the news lately ...".

 

[Rachel Adams]

It's optional. In the UK, most people say "Covid" rather than "coronavirus" and there's definitely no article before that.
Talking of articles, I'd open with "Almost all the news lately ...".

I didn't use quotes. Are they compulsory with both "coronavirus" and "Covid" if I use them in my sentence?

 

[emsr2d2]

No, they are in quotes in my sentence because I am bringing attention to them, even though they are not part of an example sentence.