July 20, 2021 release of the Virus Metadata Repository (VMR) file containing updated data on new species ratified in March, 2021 and appearing in taxonomy release 2020, MSL36.
Thanks for clarifying. Time-Life over-simplified by comparing it to HIV. And, up until around Dec. 15, 2021 I had not found the complete classification on Google search. Now, the information is out there. Maybe thanks to ICTV! I know this is a public site anyone can access, even without email. Note: that "revised" Time-Life came out in March, 2020 when it was difficult to find and buy periodicals in stores.
SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus and has a positive-sense RNA genome encapsidated in the virion. The Baltimore classification for all coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, is type IV. This has never been in doubt since its identfication in January, 2020.
So, no authority wishes to state its Baltimore Type as a IV ? (general coronaviruses such as SARS1 and MERS). The first science writers called COVID-19 an "RNA Virus like HIV." Time-Life Revised "The Science of Epidemics" Winter 2020 explained this in the article about Dr. David Ho researching the novel coronavirus for treatments. I would guess it is as they were saying, an RNA retrovirus. That is, a Type VI in Baltimore. The significance of this is the prognosis of Type VI : pessimistic since it is a long, drawn-out battle. The authorities are exhausting resources on COVID-19 Testing, primarily. Secondarily, vaccines only effective short-term and impossible to keep up with. Of course, I am not in working science or with an institution. Retired citizen, molecular biology doctoral drop-out from UT-Austin in 1984 short of a PhD. Is there scientist disagreement about Baltimore classification of the COVID-19? Even worse, might it not be any one of the seven Types? If it was created artificially, or a single-step genetic recombination among bat and pangolin viruses? Does SARS CoV2 defy Baltimore Typology? Just give me a Type, Roman Numeral, please, anyone?
SARS-CoV-2 is a positive sense RNA virus classified under the species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus. The full taxonomic path is:
What is the classification of SARS CoV-2? I suspect it is a retrovirus, which would make it Type VI. I have seen SARS CoV1 classified as simply an RNA virus such as Type IV.