COVID-19: Self-isolate, quarantine, social distancing & 5 other relevant terminologies
- Many terminologies have been used in COVID-19 related reports
- These include self-isolate, quarantine, social distancing among several others
- YEN.com.gh takes a look at the real meanings and explanations of the most common terms
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The reportage of the coronavirus pandemic otherwise known as COVID-19 has come with many terminologies that have flooded news articles and social media in general.
Sourcing Ctvnews.ca, YEN.com.gh takes a look at the real meanings and deep explanations behind the common terms that have been heard in these times.
1. COVID-19
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.
According to the World Health Organization, the “CO” stands for corona, “VI” for virus, “D” for disease, and 19, which indicates the year the new illness appeared.
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2. Pandemic
A pandemic is typically declared when an epidemic has spread to multiple continents or countries. It has sometimes been called a “global epidemic.”
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic.
3. Quarantine
It is a restriction of movement that is typically placed on people who were likely exposed to a contagious disease, such as COVID-19.
Individuals, families, and entire communities can be put into quarantine. They can be mandatory or voluntary, depending on the situation.
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4. Contact tracing
According to the World Health Organization, contact tracing is a monitoring process that involves identifying all of the people an infected person was recently in contact with, informing those contacts about the virus and what they should do, and conducting regular follow-ups with them.
5. Epidemic
An epidemic is a large outbreak of a disease in a short period of time. Epidemics often happen when a new disease emerges or if something happens to make people less immune to a disease.
The World Health Organization said the number of cases in an epidemic can vary according to the types of disease and population that is exposed.
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6. Social distancing
Health officials have been recommending “social distancing” as a means of limiting the transmission of COVID-19. The term essentially means people should stay away from public spaces with large gatherings of people.
It also means individuals should maintain a certain distance from each other. In the case of COVID-19, public health officials advising keeping a one-metre distance from others.
7. Self-isolation
Individuals can voluntarily put themselves in “self-isolation,” typically at home, if they suspect they have been exposed to a virus, but they’re not showing any symptoms. They’re advised not to have any contact with others during the period of isolation.
For example, if they have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for a disease, they may go into a self-isolation for a period of time to avoid further spread.
8. Zoonotic
A virus is considered zoonotic when its origins can be traced to animals. These diseases are known as zoonoses, meaning they are naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.
It’s believed the virus that causes COVID-19 may have originated in bats and spread through a number of species before it was contracted by humans.
In other news, Nigeria has recorded five more cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). The figure of the fast-spreading deadly virus now officially stands at 8. Four of the new five cases are Nigerians, while the fifth one is a foreign national.
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