All six confirmed novel betacoronavirus cases have been human, and no reported animal contacts have been reported as symptomatic or betacornavirus confirmed. Moreover, the first two confirmed cases had renal failure suggesting they represented a small subset of severe cases with viral RNA levels sufficiently high enough to be detected by the pan-coronavirus PCR test. The negative test in one of the current symptomatic cluster member suggests there are still sensitivity issues associated with the collection/testing of cases which are likely betacornovirus infected. Negative test results were also reported for symptomatic contacts of the first Qatar case, which included health care workers.

The recent sequences clearly define a novel human pathogen, and the Riyadh cluster strongly suggests the novel hCoV is transmitting human to human in multiple countries, which has led to an WHO recommendation of broader testing.