IJNet compiled a glossary of key terms for journalists covering the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Asymptomatic
When carriers of a disease do not show signs or symptoms of a disease, but can still transmit it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 likely has a two to 14-day incubation period, based on what they have seen with other coronaviruses.
Case fatality rate (CFR)
The death rate. An estimate of the risk of mortality from a contagious disease. The CFR is calculated by dividing the number of deaths caused by a disease by the number of cases of that disease in a given time period.
Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine
Drugs primarily used to treat and prevent malaria. Clinical trials of these drugs are underway, but early evidence is still not clear they prove useful.
Close contact
A person who may be at risk of a contagious disease because of their proximity or exposure to a known case. For COVID-19, the CDC defines a close contact as anyone who has been within 6 feet of a person infected with the virus for a prolonged period of time, or has had direct contact with the infected person’s secretions.
Cluster
A disease cluster or infection cluster is a group of similar health events that have occurred in the same area around the same time.
Community transmission/spread
Infections identified in a given geographic area without a history of travel elsewhere, and no connection to a known case.
Confirmed cases
The number of cases that have been confirmed by diagnostic testing. The actual number of cases that exist is likely much higher.
Contact tracing
The process of identifying, assessing and managing people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to prevent onward transmission.
Cordon sanitaire (see also isolation, quarantine)
The restriction of movement in and out of a region or city, which prevents anyone from leaving a defined geographic area infected by a disease to stop its spread.
Coronavirus
A family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The novel coronavirus recently discovered has been named SARS-CoV-2, and it causes COVID-19.
COVID-19
The name of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which is short for “Coronavirus Disease 2019.” If you’re sick, you have COVID-19. You were infected by SARS-CoV-2.
Drive-through testing
Testing in which individuals remain in their vehicles, and medical staff in protective gear come to administer the swab test. Afterward, swabs are sent to a laboratory for testing.
Droplet transmission/spread
A mode of transmission for a contagious disease that involves relatively large, short-range — less than 6 feet — respiratory droplets produced by sneezing, coughing or talking.
Elective surgeries
Procedures that are considered non-urgent and non-essential. During periods of community transmission, the CDC is recommending that elective procedures, surgeries and non-urgent outpatient visits be postponed.
Endemic
A disease that regularly infects humans, like the flu, strep throat or any common illness. There are four coronavirus strains that commonly infect humans, usually manifesting as colds.
Epidemic
An increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area. When there are enough outbreaks, in places beyond that initial spot, that amounts to an epidemic.
Essential activities
Tasks that are essential to an individual’s health or safety or the health and safety of their family or household members, which may include obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention or other necessary purposes.
Essential government functions
All services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Fever
Generally, a fever is when the body temperature exceeds 100.4°F, according to the CDC.
Flattening the curve
Slowing a virus’ spread to reduce the peak number of cases and related demands on hospitals and infrastructure, which could result in more deaths.
Fomite
An inanimate object that can be the vehicle for transmission of an infectious agent (e.g., bedding, towels or surgical instruments). There is evidence that coronavirus spreads via fomites, although this is a less common route of transmission.
Herd immunity
When enough people become immune to a disease — either through exposure or via a vaccine — that the spread of the disease begins to slow, or stop, within a population.
Home isolation
The directive persons who have symptoms or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 have been given, to stay at home until they are recovered.
Incubation
The length of time between when an infection begins and when there are apparent signs of the disease.
Isolation
Separating people sick with a contagious disease from those who are not sick.
MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)
Another type of coronavirus. The acronym refers to the illnesses, while MERS-CoV refers to the disease.
Modes of transmission
How a virus spreads from one person to another. Respiratory infections can be transmitted through droplets of different sizes.
N95 respirator (surgical mask)
Personal protective equipment that is used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face. Facemasks are simply a physical barrier, while respirators tend to be tighter fitting and have an element of air filtration.
Negative-pressure rooms
Rooms specifically designed for patients with contagious diseases that contain circulating air to prevent them from being released into any other part of the hospital, allowing air to flow into the isolation room but not escape from the room.
Novel
Meaning "new," a novel coronavirus is a strain that hasn't been detected in humans before. The virus responsible for the current epidemic is often called the novel coronavirus.
Pandemic
An epidemic that has spread over several countries/continents, usually affecting a large number of people.
Person-to-person spread
When the virus has been transmitted due to close contact between people, whether the interaction involves actual physical contact or just a cough or sneeze in close quarters, which is different than when a disease is spread via contaminated surfaces or via animals.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Masks, gloves, face shields and other gear that keeps health care workers from catching an infection.
Physical distancing
Measures taken to reduce person-to-person contact in a given community, in order to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease. The World Health Organization suggests the term "physical distancing" instead of "social distancing" to stress the importance of separating people physically while keeping them socially connected.
Pneumonia
When the small air sacs of the lungs (alveoli, the structures where gases from the atmosphere are exchanged with the blood) become inflamed and fill up with fluid. A possible symptom of COVID-19.
Public health emergency
An official designation that can help the government access special funds and resources to address the emergency.
Quarantine
Separating and restricting the movement of people exposed, or potentially exposed, to a contagious disease.
R0/reproductive rate
An epidemiological metric used to describe the contagiousness or transmissibility of infectious agents. It is an estimate of the average number of new cases of a disease that each case generates, at a given point in time. R0 estimates for the virus that causes COVID-19 are around 2 to 3, which is slightly higher than that for seasonal influenza (R0 ~1.2-1.3), but far lower than more contagious diseases such as measles (R0 ~12 - 18).
Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
A technology used for COVID-19 diagnostic testing. It looks for the virus’s genetic signature.
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2)
The name of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease.
Self-quarantine
The act of staying home and away from other people as much as possible after exposure.
Serological tests
A diagnostic test that looks for antibodies (a blood protein built to help fight off a specific virus or pathogen), which could tell if someone has ever been infected with COVID-19, and could suggest they are possibly immune.
Shelter in place
All people must remain at their place of residence, except to conduct essential activities, essential businesses, and essential government functions.
Stay-at-home order
Enforceable restrictions on where residents can go in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Those who violate the order may be detained, fined or even given jail time.
Social distancing (see also physical distancing)
Measures taken to reduce person-to-person contact in a given community, in order to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease. These can include working from home, closing offices and schools, canceling events and avoiding public transportation.
Symptomatic
When someone is showing symptoms of a particular illness or a disease. For COVID-19, common symptoms include fever, cough or shortness of breath.
Therapeutics
Drugs that lessen the severity of disease symptoms or keep people from getting severely sick or dying.
Vaccine
A formulation to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies for a pathogen in the hope of providing immunity to that pathogen.
Ventilator
A device or machine that delivers air into the lungs through a tube that is placed into the mouth or nose and down into the windpipe.
Viral shedding
The period of time after the virus has replicated in the host and is being emitted.
Zoonotic
Zoonotic diseases exist in animals but can also infect humans. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease.
Sources: Global Health Policy's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Glossary, CNN's Pandemic, COVID-19 and all the coronavirus terms you need to know, Vox's Ventilator vs. respirator, quarantine vs. isolation: COVID-19 pandemic terms, defined, FDA's Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
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