Coronavirus ABC: a simple explanation of the main terms associated with the pandemic

As the new coronavirus spreads, words like COVID-19, pandemic, and social distancing have become part of our everyday vocabulary. But what exactly do they mean? Tells Reuters.

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Coronavirus, SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19

There are several human coronaviruses. The virus, which first appeared in humans in China in December, is a newly identified human coronavirus called SARS-CoV2. It is this particular coronavirus that is causing the current pandemic disease and should be referred to as either a novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2). Why "2"? This is the second virus from this family, the first was the causative agent of SARS-COV.

COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease 2019) is the name of the respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV2. This disease is not caused by any other type of virus and is not caused by any other “coronavirus.”

Self-isolation and social distancing

The need for self-isolation extends to people who have symptoms of COVID-19 infection and those who live with them. This means that in the event of illness, you must stay at home and not go outside, except in your own garden or yard. It also means staying away from other people in the house as much as possible, sleeping alone, using separate towels, and washing and cleaning regularly.

Social distancing has been introduced by governments around the world to help people avoid contracting and spreading the disease caused by the new coronavirus. In essence, this means avoiding personal contact as much as possible. You can leave your home for sports, shopping or work, but you should stay at least 2 meters away from others.

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Epidemic and Pandemic

Both of these terms are descriptive. They describe an outbreak, but are not classifications or ratings, and the World Health Organization (WHO) does not declare outbreaks as pandemic or epidemic.

The word epidemic is often used to describe a large outbreak of disease over a wide geographic area, affecting a large portion of the population.

"Pandemic" is used to describe an epidemic or outbreak of disease that has spread to several countries on several continents and affects an exceptionally large number of people.

Quarantine and lockdown

Quarantine is a way to isolate and confine people who have been exposed to a disease, such as COVID-19, to see if they become infected and become ill. That's why, early in the pandemic, groups of people returning to their home countries after being in Wuhan, China, for example, or after being on a cruise ship where COVID-19 cases were detected, were quarantined for about two weeks.

The terms "lockdown" and "shutdown" are used by many to describe more general and widespread restrictions on movement, work and travel for all people in a city, region or country.

Vaccine and antiviral agent

A vaccine is something that is given to a healthy person to prevent them from contracting the virus and becoming ill with COVID-19.

An antiviral is a medicine or therapeutic agent that is prescribed to try to cure a person infected with a viral disease such as COVID-19. Antiviral drugs cannot treat diseases caused by bacteria, and antibiotics cannot treat diseases caused by viruses.

Cytokine storm

A cytokine storm, which is common in some people with COVID-19, is a powerful inflammatory reaction in the body in which the level of cytokines in the blood increases sharply, leading to an immune attack on the body's own cells and tissues. Cytokines are molecules that trigger inflammatory, immune and other processes in the body and affect various body functions. As a result of a cytokine storm, tissues and organs can be destroyed and the person will die.

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Saturation and pulse oximeter

Saturation is the percentage of oxygen saturation in the blood, or more precisely, the percentage of hemoglobin bound to oxygen at the time of measurement. In epidemiologically unfavorable periods, saturation measurement is used as one of the methods for early diagnosis of COVID-19-associated lung damage.

Saturation at home can be measured with a pulse oximeter, a device that is worn on a finger. Regular monitoring of the situation makes sense only for those who have confirmed COVID-19 or in cases where there are symptoms of acute respiratory disease, in order not to miss the development of complications.

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