In this global Coronavirus COVID-19 health emergency, Vitoria has sadly become a hotspot (site with multiple cases of infection) in Spain. In an attempt to prevent the spread of disease, the local authorities are implementing containment measures such as the closure of schools since last Tuesday.
At present, the coronavirus crisis is on everybody’s lips so I have compiled a vocabulary list to enable students to hold a conversation in English about this major issue. This image shows the vocabulary list and down below, each of these expressions is illustrated in the context of current news.
Containment area/zone
A New York professor who is in quarantine in New Rochelle on Wednesday compared the designated “containment zone” in the area to “house arrest.”
Rockland/Westchester Journal News – March 12, 2020
Contract the disease
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the only known individuals on the film to contract the disease, insiders said. The married couple was in Australia for production of Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley movie.
Variety – March 11, 2020
Coordinated international response
EU leaders lambast President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend all air travel to the US from 26 European countries stressing that the coronavirus pandemic requires a coordinated international response.
RT News – March 12, 2020
Coronavirus Mutations
Chinese studies link quarantines with coronavirus mutations that may make it more ‘insidious’.
South China Morning Post – March 12, 2020
Droplets
The new coronavirus spreads mainly through respiratory droplets that launch into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Live Science- March 3, 2020
Epidemic
For a two-week span during the worst of China’s coronavirus epidemic, thousands of its people were diagnosed with the disease every day.
March 12, 2020
Epidemic versus Pandemic
Epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected.
Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.
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Very Well Health – Updated March 12, 2020
Fight the virus off
Those who get admitted to hospital are given treatment for their symptoms while their immune systems try to fight the virus off.
BBC News – Jan 30, 2020
Highly contagious/communicable
Coronavirus patients with mild symptoms may be highly contagious.
Hand sanitizer
Using hand sanitizer helps prevent the spread of coronavirus. So what do you do when it’s sold out?
Hotspot
Washington DC: The New Coronavirus Hotspot*?
*Site with multiple cases of infection
March 11, 2020
Incubation period
The coronavirus’ average incubation period is 5 days, a study shows — but in 1% of cases, it may last longer than the standard 2-week quarantine.
Business Insider – Mar 10, 2020
Infect (infected/infection/infectious)
Here’s How Fast the Coronavirus Could Infect Over 1 Million Americans.
https://time.com/5801726/coronavirus-models-forecast/
Time – March 12, 2020
Quarantine
Trump Should Self-Quarantine Like Trudeau. Both leaders have been exposed to the coronavirus. But only one is doing the responsible thing.
Foreign Policy – March 12, 2020
Outbreak
A Chinese government spokesman has tried to blame the US army for the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization this week.
New York Post – March 12, 2020
Pandemic
The coronavirus outbreak has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
BBC News, March 12. 2020
Restriction of movement of individuals
Public health measures to achieve these goals may include quarantine, which involves the restriction of movement of individuals who may have been exposed to the virus
World Health Organisation Interim guidance – February 29, 2020
Self-isolation (Isolate/isolation)
One of the strategies the British government will use to control the spread of COVID-19 is self-isolation. In case you are wondering exactly what self-isolation entails, we have provided ten question and answers.
The conversation – 12 marzo 2020
Shut schools down
The Delhi Government had ordered to shut schools down in the violence-affected areas for a week.
NDTV–Mar 2, 2020
Spread rapidly
With the virus continuing to spread rapidly, Spain had registered 3,004 cases as of Thursday evening — an increase of more than 800 in less than 24 hours — of which almost half were in Madrid. Nationwide, 86 people have died — up from 47 on Wednesday — while 189 have recovered.
Financial Times – March 12, 2020
Stockpile food
Government urges people not to stockpile food and products.
Newstalk – March 12, 2020
Symptoms
Coronavirus symptoms, and what to do if you have them.
Globe Staff, Updated March 12, 2020
Telework
Non-critical Commission staff to telework from Monday
Test positive
Three cruise ship passengers in Cambodia test positive for virus.
The Star – Mar 13, 2020
Transmit/transmission – (informal) give/ pass on
Can pets contract or transmit coronavirus? Dr Grace Roberts, a virologist at Queen’s University Belfast, explained contraction of the virus came down to certain cell structures which animals are unlikely to have.
Express – Mar 13, 2020
Travelling restrictions
Several countries have implemented travel restrictions in a bid to prevent coronavirus from further spreading.
Evening Standard – Mar 10, 2020
More lists created after the publication of this blogpost:
