Introduction
Terms Associated With Corona Virus ,Corona viruses are a family of viruses that can cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In 2019, a new corona virus was identified as the cause of a disease outbreak that originated in China. The virus is now known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is called corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic
Terms Associated With Corona Virus
Asymptomatic: presenting no symptoms of disease. In the case of COVID-19, this means absence of fever, dry cough, and sore throat, shortness of breath and body aches, among other less common symptoms. Notably, it is recommended that individuals do not get tested unless they exhibit symptoms because of the risk of false negatives. In other words, most tests will not be accurate unless symptoms are present.
Case fatality rate: the ratio of deaths from COVID-19 to the total number of individuals diagnosed with the disease.
Clinical trial: research experiments on human participants designed to answer questions about new treatments; in the case of COVID-19 and corona viruses, the safety and efficacy of a potential vaccine.
Community spread: the spread of a contagious disease in a geographic area in which there is no knowledge of how someone contracted the disease. In other words, no known contact can be traced to other infected individuals.
Confirmed positive case: in contrast to a presumptive positive case, this is confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of a positive COVID-19 test in an individual.
Contact tracing: identifying and monitoring people who may have come into contact with an infectious person. In the case of COVID-19, monitoring usually involves self-quarantine as an effort to control the spread of disease.
Contactless: without contact; for example, “contactless delivery” would include leaving purchased items at the entryway of a home rather than handing it directly to a person.
Containment area: a geographical zone with limited access in or out in an effort to contain an outbreak.
Corona virus: a family of viruses that include SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) as well as other respiratory illnesses. A coronaviruses, also known as a Cove, is typically spread between animals and humans—an event known as zoonotic transfer—and they are named for the term “corona”—Latin for crown—which refers to the shape of the virus when observed microscopically.
Respirator: a device designed to protect individuals from inhaling something hazardous in the air, in this case, particulate that may be contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
SARS-CoV2: the virus fully defined as “severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2” causes the disease COVID-19.
Screening: the act of verifying symptoms and potential exposure before testing for the virus.
Self-isolation: the act of separating oneself from others.
Self-quarantine: the act of refraining from any contact with other individuals for a period of time—in the case of COVID-19, two weeks—to observe whether any symptoms of the disease will arise after potential exposure.
Shelter-in-place: typically issued by local government, a shelter-in-place asks residents to remain at home and only leave to perform duties deemed essential in an effort to slow transmission of and exposure to the virus.
Social distancing: the act of remaining physically apart in an effort to stem transmission of COVID-19. Social distancing can include a move to remote work, the cancellation of events and remaining at least six feet away from other individuals.
Terms Associated With Corona Virus
Spanish flu: also known as the 1918 influenza pandemic, this was the most severe pandemic in recent history according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with an estimated 500 million infections and 50 million deaths worldwide. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of an avian origin.
Super-spreader: a highly contagious individual who can spread an infectious disease to a large number of uninfected people through a network of contacts.
Symptomatic: showing symptoms of COVID-19, which can include a fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and body aches. Health officials believe the risk of transmitting the virus is highest when an individual is symptomatic.
Vaccine: a biological preparation of organisms that provides immunity to a particular infectious disease. Currently, there is no vaccine for COVID-19.
Ventilator: a machine designed to move air in and out of the lungs for a patient who is physically unable to breathe or who is not breathing well. Because COVID-19 can cause severe lower respiratory infection, ventilators are a critical machine for patients with severe disease.
Quarantine: Sometimes called “isolation.” Quarantines keep people away from each other to prevent the spread of disease. Stay-at-home orders are a type of quarantine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as a new corona virus creates a crisis unprecedented in our lifetimes, there’s also been upheaval in our language.TMC News has compiled a list of terms that are important to understanding the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/coronavirus-words-guide