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Glossary of the COVID-19 pandemic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The COVID-19 pandemic has created and popularized many terms relating to disease and videoconferencing.

A

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Anthropause

Main article: Anthropause

The global reduction of modern human activity, especially travel.
Artificial immunity
Immunity resulting from a vaccine or other immune-generating substance.
Asymptomatic transmission

See also: Asymptomatic

The spread of a contagious illness by those without symptoms, or before the appearance of symptoms.

B

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Booster dose

Main article: Booster dose

An extra administration of a vaccine following an earlier dose.

C

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Chinese virus
A term for COVID-19 used by former United States president Donald Trump to emphasize that the pandemic started in China.
Comirnaty

Main article: Comirnaty

The commercial name for the FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, released August 21, 2021. It also has several other names or designators used on the actual vials.
Community transmission

Main article: Community transmission

The spread of a contagious disease to an individual with no known contact with other infected populations.
Contact tracing

Main article: Contact tracing

The process of identification of persons who may have come into contact with an infected person.
Covidiot

Main article: Covidiot

A person who ignores safety guidelines, potentially spreading COVID-19.
COVID-19 lockdowns

Main article: COVID-19 lockdowns

Governmental safety interventions meant to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Cytokine Storm

Main article: Cytokine Storm

A term used to describe an excessive immune response resulting in multiple organ failure.

D

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Doomscrolling

Main article: Doomscrolling

Endlessly scrolling through bad news especially social media, to the detriment of the reader's mental health.

E

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Essential worker

Main article: Essential worker

An employee who provides essential services to the public.

F

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Flattening the curve

Main article: Flattening the curve

A public health strategy to slow down the spread of a virus involving voluntary and involuntary restrictions on social interactions. Also called "plank the curve".
Flurona

Main article: Flurona

A portmanteau of "flu" and "corona" referring to a double infection of coronavirus and influenza strains.
Fomite

Main article: Fomite

An object or surface that may contain an infectious virus or bacteria that can be a means of transmission.

H

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Herd immunity

Main article: Herd immunity

A term to describe when a high percentage of a defined population is immune to a disease because of vaccination or prior exposure to a disease.
Heterologous vaccination

Main article: Heterologous vaccine

Combining different brands or types of vaccines, instead of getting multiple doses of the same vaccine. This may be done for practical reasons such as a vaccine shortage or in the hope of a better response.
Host cell

Main article: Host cell

A cell in the body that becomes invaded by a virus and then acts as a host to produce more virus particles.
Hygiene theater

Main article: Hygiene theater

The practice of taking hygiene measures intended to give the illusion of improved health safety while actually doing little to reduce any risk.

I

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Immunity

Main article: Immunity (medical)

The capability of multicellular organisms to resist harmful microorganisms.
Incubation period

Main article: Incubation period

The time it takes for an individual who is infected with a disease to start showing symptoms.

L

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Long-hauler

Main article: Long-hauler

A term used to describe individuals who contracted COVID-19 and exhibit symptoms for an extended period of time compared to the majority of the recovered population.

M

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Maskne

Main article: Maskne

A portmanteau of "mask" and "acne" referring to acne and other rashes of the face that occur in association with mask wearing.

N

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Nasopharyngeal swab
A swab with a soft tip used for collecting nostril respiratory mucosa samples from the back of the nose.
Natural immunity
Immunity derived from a prior infection.

O

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Oropharyngeal swab
A swab with a soft tip used for collecting nostril respiratory mucosa samples from the back of the throat.

P

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PCR test

Main article: PCR test

An acronym for a "polymerase chain reaction test" that determines if a sample contains genetic material from a virus.

Q

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Quarantini

Main article: Quarantini

Virtual happy hour.

R

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R0

Main article: R naught

Pronounced "R-naught" or "R-zero"; a measurement used to describe the intensity of an outbreak.

S

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Serology test

Main article: Serology test

Also called an "antibody test" is used to determine if an individual had been infected with a virus in the past by testing for antibodies in the bloodstream.
Seroprevalence

Main article: Seroprevalence

The number of people in which antibodies to a disease have been detected in a specific population.
Social distancing

Main article: Social distancing

Also called "physical distancing" is the practice of keeping a certain distance from other people, in order to stop a disease from spreading.
Superspreader

Main article: Superspreader

Or "superspreading event" is a person or event that infects a large number of people with a contagious disease.

T

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Twindemic

Main article: Twindemic

A portmanteau of "twin" and "pandemic" referring to simultaneous cases of the flu and COVID-19.

V

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Viral load

Main article: Viral load

Also called "viral dose" refers to the amount of a virus an individual has been exposed to including biological and environmental specimens.

Z

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Zero-COVID

Main article: Zero-COVID

A suppression strategy that involves using public health measures such as contact tracing, mass testing, and border quarantine and lockdowns
Zoonotic

Main article: Zoonotic

A term used to describe a disease originating in animals that has mutated to infect humans.
Zoom

Main article: Zoom (software)

A brand of videoconferencing software popularized during the pandemic.
Zoom fatigue

Main article: Zoom fatigue

Fatigue associated with the overuse of virtual platforms of communication such as videoconferencing.
Zoombombing

Main article: Zoombombing

Unwanted members joining a Zoom call.
Zoomland
The proverbial place video teleconferences, particularly using the software Zoom, take place. It was used when video teleconferencing software Zoom became an increasingly common way to communicate.
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  • Glossary on the COVID-19 pandemic - Government of Canada
  • Lang, Cady (December 14, 2020). "Social Distancing, Doomscroll and Defund: The Words That Defined 2020". Time.
  • Kreuz, Roger J. (September 25, 2020). "How COVID-19 is changing the English language". The Conversation.