As an English teacher who loves words and language, with a bit of time on my hands, I thought I'd compile a lexicon of words that have taken on a new meaning for me since this pandemic started or that have previously been much less familiar to me than they are now. Maybe this list resonates with you … perhaps you have other words to add to the list that I've left off?
I'd welcome your additions in the comments. Thanks!
- Novel coronavirus
- SARS-CoV-2
- Outbreak
- Containment
- Mitigation
- Pandemic
- Immunity
- Epidemiologist
- Virologist
- Patient Zero
- Zoonotic origins
- Wet market
- RNA
- Pathogenicity
- Hazmat suit
- Comorbidities
- Underlying medical problems
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Immunocompromised
- ACE-2 receptors
- Spike protein
- Upper respiratory tract disease
- Epithelial cells
- ICU beds
- triage
- Intubation
- Respirators
- Ventilators
- BiPap machine
- CPAP
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Proning
- Negative pressure rooms
- ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
- Alveoli
- Bronchioles
- Anosmia
- Ageusia
- Hypoxia
- Local inflammatory response
- Cytokine storm
- Symptomatic
- Asymptomatic spreaders
- Super-spreaders
- Vectors
- Mild symptoms
- Herd immunity
- Epidemic curve
- Reproductive rate
- R number
- R0
- Case fatality rate (CFR)
- Mortality
- Flattening the curve
- Thermal scanners
- Viral load
- Viral shedding
- Quarantine
- Self-isolate
- Incubation period
- Shelter in place
- Lockdown
- Stay-at-home orders
- Circuit breaker
- Social distancing
- Physical distancing
- Vulnerable groups
- Key workers
- Frontline workers
- Essential services
- PPE
- Face shields
- Pulse oximeter
- Oxygen saturation of the blood
- Palliative care
- N95 masks
- Hand santiser
- Disposable gloves
- Coughing etiquette
- Disinfectant
- Contaminated surface
- Aerosol transmission
- Airborne infectious particles
- Droplet transmission
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Remdesivir
- Plasma
- Seroprevalence
- Telemedicine
- PRC (polymerase chain reaction) test
- Nasal swab
- Pathogen
- Serology tests
- Seroconversion
- Drive-through testing
- Antibodies
- Antigen tests
- False negative
- Close contact
- Contact tracing
- Community spread
- Cleaning protocols
- Fomite
- Furlough
- Working from home
- Stimulus packages
- Re-opening the economy
- Stay Alert!
- Remote learning
- New normal
- ….. and, of course, not forgetting…
- Covidiot!
