International Journal of Coronaviruses
Special Issues
Special Issues may organize a focused, time-limited body of coronavirus research, but they remain subject to the journal’s normal editorial independence, peer review, ethics and post-publication responsibilities.
No active Special Issue is currently listed
Regular manuscripts remain welcome through the journal’s standard submission routes. A future Special Issue call will identify its approved topic, guest editor, dates, article types and governance before submissions are invited.
Scientific purpose
When a focused collection is appropriate
A proposal should address a defined coronavirus question that benefits from coordinated contributions and remains within the journal’s standing scope. A broad marketing theme, a topic unrelated to coronaviruses, or a collection created mainly to solicit APCs is unsuitable.
Focused question
The proposal identifies the scientific problem, intended contribution and boundaries clearly enough for authors and reviewers to judge fit.
Current evidence need
The rationale explains why coordinated research or synthesis is useful now without using outbreak fear, false urgency or unsupported claims.
Qualified oversight
A named guest editor has verified subject expertise, current affiliation, ORCID where available, and no disqualifying conflict.
Approval gates
Proposal and launch process
Submit a concept
Provide the proposed title, scope, exclusions, evidence need, intended article types and anticipated scholarly audience.
Verify the guest editor
Supply a current CV, affiliation, institutional email, ORCID where available, relevant publications and a complete conflict-of-interest declaration.
Editorial assessment
The journal evaluates topic fit, overlap with existing calls, guest-editor expertise, workload, research-integrity risk and whether independent review can be supported.
Approve governance and dates
Publication of the call requires written responsibilities, milestones, a realistic closing date, escalation routes and the journal editor who retains oversight.
Publish the verified call
The live page names the guest editor, affiliation, scope, article types, dates, APC treatment and peer-review safeguards. No placeholder editor or expired date may appear.
Accountable curation
Guest-editor responsibilities
- Maintain the approved scope and refer out-of-scope submissions to the journal editor.
- Declare all personal, professional, institutional and financial conflicts before handling begins and whenever circumstances change.
- Select qualified independent reviewers and protect manuscript and reviewer confidentiality.
- Apply the same scientific, ethical, reporting, data, biosafety and dual-use requirements used for regular submissions.
- Do not promise review, acceptance, timing, citation performance or fee treatment to prospective authors.
- Escalate suspected misconduct, legal concerns, appeals and post-publication issues to the journal’s responsible editor and publisher.
- Meet agreed milestones and communicate when workload or conflicts require reassignment.
- Accept that the journal retains final decision authority and may close or cancel a collection when safeguards cannot be maintained.
Independent review
Safeguards that apply to every submission
Same peer-review model
Special Issue manuscripts use the journal’s single-blind review model, with double-blind review available on request. The collection does not create a lower acceptance threshold.
Guest-editor submissions
A guest editor must not handle, select reviewers for or influence a manuscript they authored or one involving a close conflict. An independent journal editor manages the entire record.
Journal oversight
The designated journal editor reviews conflicts, reviewer selection, recommendations and integrity concerns and retains final decision authority.
APC treatment
The standard approved APC and waiver rules apply as for regular articles. Payment or participation in a collection does not affect editorial assessment.
Risk review
Clinical, ethics, biosafety, biosecurity and dual-use concerns may require specialized review, risk mitigation or refusal of publication.
Closure and accountability
Dates, closure and the published record
Milestones
A live call states the opening date, submission deadline, review milestones and expected closure. Dates are updated or the call is closed; an expired call must not remain “open”.
Insufficient or unsuitable content
The journal may extend, close or cancel a collection. Submitted manuscripts continue under a documented editorial pathway and are not guaranteed publication.
Collection transparency
Published articles identify the collection and guest editor where appropriate while preserving individual submission, decision and conflict records.
Post-publication responsibility
Corrections, expressions of concern and retractions follow the same policy as regular articles. Closure of the collection does not end editorial responsibility.
Proposal enquiries
Submit a proposal for editorial assessment
This route is for a Special Issue proposal, not a manuscript submission. A proposal is not an approval, editorial appointment or promise of publication. Include the proposed scope, rationale, guest-editor identity, affiliation, ORCID and conflict declaration. Manuscripts should use the journal’s Submit Manuscript page.
Contact the editorial office