COVID-19
Coronavirus disease outbreak
COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, first identified in late 2019 and declared a global pandemic in 2020.
The name abbreviates "coronavirus disease 2019." Symptoms range from mild cold-like effects to severe pneumonia and death.
The pandemic reshaped daily life worldwide—lockdowns, mask mandates, remote work, and mass vaccination campaigns became defining features of the early 2020s: I had COVID-19 twice but never got very sick.
Enforced restriction on movement
- social distancingDeliberate interpersonal spacing
- flatten the curveSpread outbreak over longer period
- state of emergencyOfficially declared public danger
- travel banProhibition on journeys
quarantine · isolation · self-isolation · stay-at-home · shelter-in-place · curfew · containment · essential workers
Concealing by covering
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- social distancingDeliberate interpersonal spacing
- PPEHazard-shielding work attire
disinfection · face shield · N95 · ventilation · hand hygiene · quarantine · isolation · testing
Elevated body temperature
- coughExplosive airway clearing
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- anosmiaTotal olfactory loss
- dyspneaLabored respiration condition
chills · myalgia · sore throat · headache · loss of taste · chest pain · diarrhea · nausea
Differing form of something
- DeltaAlluvial formation at mouth
- OmicronGreek letter meaning "little O"
- spike proteinViral membrane projection enabling infection
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
strain · RNA · viral · pathogen · replication · genome · sequencing · virion
Protective medical injection
- PfizerGlobal medication and vaccine company
- ModernaBiotech vaccine company
- AstraZenecaMultinational pharmaceutical corporation
- Johnson & JohnsonHealthcare and consumer goods conglomerate
booster · efficacy · side effects · clinical trials · mRNA · doses · jab · rollout
Minute liquid globules
- aerosolMist in gas
- community spreadDisease circulating locally, source unknown
- contact tracingTracking disease spread connections
- fomitesPathogen-carrying inanimate objects
incubation period · super-spreader · airborne · respiratory · contagious · zoonotic · viral load · close contact
DNA amplification technique
- rapid testFast diagnostic yielding immediate results
- antigen testDetects foreign protein markers
- swabAbsorbent cleaning implement
- nasalOf the nose
positive · negative · false positive · drive-through testing · home test · results · laboratory · specimen
Formal entry into medical care
- ICUAcute care ward
- ventilatorsMechanical breathing assistants
- nursesMedical care professionals
- doctorsLicensed medical practitioners
medical supplies · triage · oxygen · intubation · mortality · fatality rate · hospital capacity · PPE shortage
lockdown
Enforced restriction on movement
- social distancingDeliberate interpersonal spacing
- flatten the curveSpread outbreak over longer period
- state of emergencyOfficially declared public danger
travel ban · quarantine · isolation · self-isolation · stay-at-home · shelter-in-place · curfew · containment · essential workers · panic buying
masking
Concealing by covering
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- social distancingDeliberate interpersonal spacing
PPE · disinfection · face shield · N95 · ventilation · hand hygiene · quarantine · isolation · testing · screening
fever
Elevated body temperature
dyspnea · chills · myalgia · sore throat · headache · loss of taste · chest pain · diarrhea · nausea · pneumonia
variant
Differing form of something
- DeltaAlluvial formation at mouth
- OmicronGreek letter meaning "little O"
- spike proteinViral membrane projection enabling infection
mutation · strain · RNA · viral · pathogen · replication · genome · sequencing · virion · Wuhan
immunization
Protective medical injection
- PfizerGlobal medication and vaccine company
- ModernaBiotech vaccine company
- AstraZenecaMultinational pharmaceutical corporation
Johnson & Johnson · booster · efficacy · side effects · clinical trials · mRNA · doses · jab · rollout · distribution
droplets
Minute liquid globules
- aerosolMist in gas
- community spreadDisease circulating locally, source unknown
- contact tracingTracking disease spread connections
fomites · incubation period · super-spreader · airborne · respiratory · contagious · zoonotic · viral load · close contact · ventilation
PCR
DNA amplification technique
- rapid testFast diagnostic yielding immediate results
- antigen testDetects foreign protein markers
- swabAbsorbent cleaning implement
nasal · positive · negative · false positive · drive-through testing · home test · results · laboratory · specimen · sensitivity
hospitalization
Formal entry into medical care
- ICUAcute care ward
- ventilatorsMechanical breathing assistants
- nursesMedical care professionals
doctors · medical supplies · triage · oxygen · intubation · mortality · fatality rate · hospital capacity · PPE shortage · healthcare workers
- pandemiclockdowns, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, endemic
- global issuesclimate change, water scarcity, inequality, pandemics, poverty
- health crisespandemic, epidemic, outbreak, health emergency, public health emergency
- Modern Americapandemic, Great Recession, 9/11, Iraq War, Afghanistan War
- viral diseasesinfluenza, measles, mumps, rubella, smallpox
- COVID-19spike protein, mRNA vaccines, omicron, variants, Delta variant
COVID-19health
Condition of body, mind
wellness · immunity · good health · recovery · uninfected
COVID-19normalcy
State of being typical
freedom of movement · post-pandemic · herd immunity · social gathering
COVID-19influenza
Acute viral respiratory infection
common cold · seasonal flu · bacterial infection · RSV · bacterial pneumonia