Coronavirus (COVID-19) GLOSSARY: 20 Terms to Know
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COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, has introduced us to many new words and terms, such as "social distancing" and "community-acquired." But what exactly do these words mean?
What is the difference between an "epidemic" and a "pandemic"? What about "isolation" and "self-quarantine"? And what does "flattening the curve" mean?
Coronavirus-related Terms Everyone Is Wondering About
Asymptomatic: Showing no symptoms of disease. The most common COVID-19 symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath, but you can be infectious without showing any symptoms. Indeed, the most important factor in the spread of COVID-19 is asymptomatic / silent carriers.
Contagious: Infectious, or able to pass from one person to another. COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through direct contact with an infected person, inhaling microscopic droplets expelled into the air during coughing or sneezing, or touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Coronavirus (coronavirus): A type of microscopic organism that causes disease in humans. The word "corona" refers to the small spikes on the virus’s surface, which scientists thought resembled a crown when viewed with an electron microscope. A medical illustration of coronavirus structure can be seen below.
COVID-19: The name of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. COronaVIrus Disease is the phrase abbreviated by the name announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The scientific name of the coronavirus that causes it is SARS-CoV-2.
Flattening the curve: An attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus and prevent a dramatic increase in the number of infected people. By practicing social distancing, avoiding unnecessary travel and taking basic precautions, healthy individuals can help slow disease spread – or "flatten the curve."
Epidemic: A cluster of outbreaks that has spread from one geographical area to another. In other words, it means that an outbreak has gone out of control.
Incubation period: The time it takes for an infected person to start showing symptoms after exposure. For coronavirus, the incubation period is thought to range from two days to two weeks, with the average being five days before symptoms appear.
Isolation: The practice of separating someone who is ill from healthy individuals to prevent disease spread. Strategies include staying in a single room during recovery and staying away from public settings until the risk of transmission has passed.
Quarantine: Apparently healthy people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease such as COVID-19 are isolated under this practice. Quarantine may be self-imposed or mandated by the state.
Self-quarantine: The practice of separating yourself from others until returning to public life is considered safe. For COVID-19, people who suspect that they may have been exposed to the virus need to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Personal Protective Equipment (KKE): Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that could cause disease or injury in the workplace.
See: Types of Medical Masks – Are Masks Effective Against Coronavirus? Which Should Be Chosen?
Pandemic: The worldwide spread of a new infectious disease that infects large numbers of people. The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
Outbreak: A sudden increase in the number of cases of a particular disease within a relatively small geographical area. COVID-19 is thought to have originated in Wuhan, a city in China’s Hubei Province.
SARS-CoV-2: Genetic sequencing revealed that this novel coronavirus was 80% similar to the SARS coronavirus, so its name was changed. Its full name is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2. This is the name of the virus, not the disease.
Symptom: Any visible sign of illness indicating infection with a particular pathogen. Typical COVID-19 symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Social distancing: The practice of staying at least 2 meters away from other people, avoiding crowds and gatherings, and limiting or canceling all unnecessary travel to reduce disease spread.
The videographic below shows the effect of avoiding and not avoiding social contact on the spread of COVID-19:
Suspected COVID-19: Refers to a patient who has COVID-19 symptoms and is currently waiting for test results.
Screening: A basic series of questions asked by medical staff to determine whether someone should be tested for a particular disease or condition. For coronavirus, screening may include taking your temperature and asking about possible exposure to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
Testing: The practice of using blood, urine, saliva, mucus or another bodily fluid to determine whether someone has a particular condition or has been exposed to a specific infectious disease. For COVID-19, patients should first undergo screening to determine whether they need testing.
See: How Is Coronavirus Testing Done? What Are PCR and Rapid Diagnostic Tests?
Community-acquired: Used when the source of someone’s coronavirus infection is unknown. For COVID-19, it is not due to recent travel to a high-risk area or exposure to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
Conclusion
Learning and understanding these terms is really important, particularly when they relate to a public health threat. After all, how can you be expected to practice "social distancing" if you do not even know what it really means? * The infographic poster below comprehensively and clearly illustrates how COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, affects the lungs.
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