Is coronavirus lingo confusing you? Here are 11 important terms you should understand
With constant new information and an ever-changing situation, the coronavirus pandemic can be difficult to track.
From flattening the curve to asymptomatic, here is a list of terms you might hear health officials mention and what they mean as they discuss COVID-19.
What is a novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus is a previously unidentified virus discovered by scientists, according to the CDC.
The virus spreading across the world was identified in December as novel coronavirus 2019 before researchers named it severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the infectious disease COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. It’s similar to the way HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
Here’s a story about how this coronavirus pandemic started.
How long is the incubation period?
An incubation period is the length of time from exposure to a virus to when an infected person shows symptoms.
People infected with COVID-19 usually will show symptoms within about five days, according to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The overwhelming majority, or nearly 98 percent, show symptoms within 11.5 days, the study says.
Under “conservative assumptions,” 101 of every 10,000 cases will show symptoms after 14 days, researchers said.
Researchers recently discovered the coronavirus can remain contagious longer than the suggested two-week quarantine period, McClatchy reported in this story.
What’s a ‘weak positive’ test result?
A weak positive test result means a low level of the virus is detected, CNBC reports. It also could mean the virus isn’t replicating fast enough to spread to others, WFMY reported.
Perhaps the most famous case of a weak positive test result was a pet dog in Hong Kong. The dog showed no symptoms, officials reported. The CDC says no evidence exists that pets spread coronavirus.
Asymptomatic
A person can have coronavirus but not show symptoms, the CDC says. A person who doesn’t show signs of a disease is asymptomatic.
“Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms,” according to the CDC. “There have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
However, White House officials have said it’s unclear how much asymptomatic people are spreading the disease, CNN reported.
Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell says he’s asymptomatic after testing positive and told “Good Morning America” that he often jokes that he could play in a seven-game series.
Where is the epicenter?
The epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic is the geographic area with the most cases being reported, and it can change as the virus spreads globally.
The pandemic reached a “milestone” on Friday when WHO officials said the epicenter shifted to Europe from China.
“Europe has now become the epicenter of the pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO. “More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic.”
Isolation versus quarantine
Isolation and quarantine aren’t interchangeable terms, health officials say.
Isolation is for separating those who are sick from healthy people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A quarantine is used to restrict the movement and separate people who don’t feel sick but may have been exposed to coronavirus.
“These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms,” according to HHS.
What’s social distancing?
Social distancing is physically separating yourself from other people.
“Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19,” according to Johns Hopkins University.
When sporting events, concerts, schools and restaurants are shut down, it’s people practicing social distancing.
Here’s a detailed guide to proper social distancing.
What is flattening the curve?
Related to social distancing is the overall effort to flatten the curve.
When you hear flattening the curve, it’s referring to a graph of overall diseases during the length of an epidemic. Here’s an example from Thomas Jefferson University health policy professor Drew Harris.
The idea is to limit the number of cases from spiking and overwhelming the health care system. Instead, cases are spread out over a longer period of time, allowing people to receive the health care they need, NPR reported.
Flattening the curve is described as the “potential success of social distancing measures to prevent surges in illness,” according to Johns Hopkins University.
“It’s the difference between finding an ICU bed and ventilator or being treated in the parking lot tent,” Drew Harris told NPR.
What is surge capacity?
Medical surge capacity is the health care system’s ability to care for a huge increase in patients, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Because of its relation to patient volume, most current initiatives to address surge capacity focus on identifying adequate numbers of hospital beds, personnel, pharmaceuticals, supplies, and equipment,” according to HHS.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo suspended certain regulations to allow for surge capacity in hospitals as confirmed cases increase, Politico reported. Cuomo said the “wave is going to crash the hospital system,” according to U.S. News and World Report.
Who has a compromised immune system?
People with compromised immune systems include those with HIV or AIDS, cancer, transplant patient on certain types of immunosuppressive drugs and people who’ve inherited diseases that affect the immune system, according to the CDC.
People who are immunocompromised should practice “strict social distancing without delay,” according to Harvard Medical School.
What are underlying conditions?
Similarly, people with underlying conditions should engage in social distancing.
Heart or lung disease, diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure are among underlying conditions that increase risk for people who get coronavirus, Sky News reported.
About 60 percent of Americans have a chronic health condition, which worsen a coronavirus infection, The New York Times reported.
“People who are older and older people with chronic medical conditions, especially cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes (or) lung disease are more likely to have severe disease or death from COVID-19,” according to Harvard Medical School.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Is coronavirus lingo confusing you? Here are 11 important terms you should understand."