Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Coronavirus Part II - Our New Vocabulary and Life



Covid-19
Definition of Covid-19
:a mild to severe respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus, is transmitted chiefly by contact with infectious material and is characterized especially by fever, cough, and shortness of breath and may progress to pheumonia and respiratory failure.  Covid-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: This crazy and highly contagious respiratory disease that WE DO NOT WANT TO GET! 

Super Spreader 
Definition of Super Spreader
:an individual who is highly contagious and capable of transmitting a communicable disease to an unusually large number of uninfected individuals.  
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: We are trying to avoid contact with any sick highly contagious people who are, so we are staying home. 

Social Distance  
Definition of Social Distance 
:the avoidance of close contact with other people during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.  Social Distancing measures often entail canceling big gatherings (such as school, conferences, concerts, sporting events, etc.)
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: Like we alluded to above, we are staying away from pretty much everyone so we do not get this CRAZY virus!  

Physical Distance  
Definition of Physical Distance  
:an alternative term for social distancing.  Its use is being increasingly encouraged by some health professionals because the term emphasizes the importance of maintaining physical distance between people to help stop the spread of the disease.  The term also emphasizes that people should still socialize using digital technology and social media while they are separated physically. 
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: We are keeping at least 6 feet away from all other people, doing biweekly zoom meetings with our family, using google hangouts, facetime, and our iphones as much as we can.   

Shelter in Place   
Definition of Shelter in Place   
:orders for people to stay at home and not leave unless absolutely necessary.  They are put into place to prevent the further spread of the disease and allow health professionals to more effectively treat patients. 
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: The governor of Vermont put these in place on March 19th.  We put them in place on March 16th.  Home Sweet Home.  There's no place like home.  We've only gone out for dog walks and to the grocery store.  

Self-Isolation    
Definition of Self-Isolation    
:the act of isolating or separating oneself from others.
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: We've been doing this really well with people outside of our home, and sometimes when we need to, with those inside our home too.  

Fomite    
Definition of Fomite     
:an object (such as a dish or a doorknob that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission. 
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: We are doing such a good job keeping our house clean and free from germs.  We regularly disinfect all of our doorknobs, door handles, handles, counters, and keep our mail and groceries out for a day before unpacking them or opening them so we don't get the CORONAVIRUS.  

Pandemic    
Definition of Pandemic      
:an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: We are glued to the news to get updates of this out of control VIRUS that has spread all over the planet and that we DO NOT WANT TO GET.  

Community Spread     
Definition of Community Spread       
:the spread of a contagious disease within a community.  Specifically the spread of a contagious disease to individuals in a particular geographic location who have no known contact with other infected individuals or who have not recently traveled to an area where the disease has any documented cases. 
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: The infection has spread in our community from 1 known case on March 9 to over 293 on March 31, with 13 deaths.  

Flatten the Curve     
Definition of Flatten the Curve       
:slowing the spread of an epidemic disease so that the capacity of the healthcare system doesn't become overwhelmed.  The curve represents the number of cases over time, and flattening that curve means preventing a huge surge of new cases in a very short period of time.  
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: We are doing our part to flatten the curve by socially distancing, sheltering in place, and self-isolating. 

Zoontoic      
Definition of Zoonotic        
:"relating to any disease of animals communicable to humans." The noun form is zoonosis.  The source of COVID-19 is believed to be an animal, which makes it a zoonotic disease.   
KLIMA-THELEMARCK definition: As much as we love animals in this house, WE DO NOT LIKE the animal that was the host to this virus that mutated and became highly contagious to humans.  


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