Glossary of the COVID-19 pandemic

The glossary of the COVID-19 pandemic is a list of definitions of terms relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has created and popularized many terms relating to disease and videoconferencing.

A

Asymptomatic transmission

The spread of a contagious illness by thoses without or before symptoms.

C

Community transmission

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

Contact tracing

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

Covidiot

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

Cytokine Storm

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

D

Doomscrolling

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

F

Flattening the curve

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

Fomite

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

H

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.

Host cell

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

I

Incubation period

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

L

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.

N

Nasopharyngeal swab

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

O

Oropharyngeal swab

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

P

PCR test

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

Q

Quarantini

Virtual happy hour.

R

R0

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

S

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

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

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

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

V

Viral load

Also called "viral dose" refers to the amount of a virus an individual has been exposed to.

Z

Zoonotic

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

Zoom

A brand videoconferencing software.

Zoombombing

Unwanted members joining a Zoom call.

External links

Glossary on the COVID-19 pandemic - Government of Canada
The Words That Defined 2020 - Time Magazine

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