Post Coronavirus

The Words You Need To Understand The News

1. Apex: means “the tip, point, vertex, summit, climax, peak.”

In relation to COVID19, it can be used to refer to the highest number of cases in a state or country, after which the rate of infection begins to slow.

2. Asymptomatic: means “showing no evidence of disease.”

In relation to COVID19, when a person is asymptomatic doesn’t mean they aren’t infected .

3. Contract tracing: is finding out all the people who have come into direct contact with a person infected with a disease.

In relation to COVID19, is when they quarantining such people (known as contacts) and isolating them, if they become infected, helps slow the spread of the disease.

4. Coronavirus: refers to any of various RNA-containing spherical viruses of the family Coronaviridae, including several that cause acute respiratory illnesses.

When we look under a microscope, coronaviruses appear to be surrounded by a spiky array thought to look like a corona, or a crown-like shape, hence the name coronavirus.

5. Flatten the curve: means slowing the spread of an epidemic disease so that the capacity of the healthcare system doesn’t become overwhelmed.

In relation to COVID19,

6. Furlough: is a usually temporary layoff from work.

During the COVID19 outbreak, many workers were furloughed as businesses conducting non-essential activities were closed. This was done to prevent the spread of the disease by banning large gatherings as a form of social distancing.

7. Social distancing: 

8. Pandemic: is a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world. A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over a large area.

During the spreading of the COVID19, the World Health Organization (WHO) specifically uses pandemic to refer to new diseases people do not have immunity for and that have spread worldwide. The WHO has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

9. Quarantine: is a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease.

In relation to COVID19,  the people have been placed in quarantine when they are not currently sick, but have been or may have been exposed to a communicable disease. This helps stop the spread of the disease.

10.  Virus: is an infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals.

In relation to COVID19, COVID-19 spreads through droplets from the mouth and nose of a person with COVID-19 after coughing, sneezing, exhaling, talking, etc.

11/ BONUS. Shelter in place: is an order to stay in a safe place indoors due to an emergency (e.g., extreme weather, chemical hazard) until given permission by authorities to evacuate. The specifics of a shelter-in-place order varies depending on the emergency.

During the outbreak COVID19, shelter in place refers to orders for people to stay at home and not leave unless absolutely necessary. They are put into place to prevent the further spread of the disease and allow health professionals to more effectively treat patients. These measures are sometimes popularly described as draconian, or very harsh and severe.