New words and phrases from COVID-19

a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease.

Flatten the curve means slowing the spread of an epidemic disease so that the capacity of the healthcare system doesn’t become overwhelmed.

Symptom is a phenomenon that arises from and accompanies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it.

The (very limited) group of people you see during self-isolation; one of the many slang terms that plays on quarantine.

means “relating to any disease of animals communicable to humans.” The noun form is zoonosis.

Contact tracing is finding out all the people who have come into direct contact with a person infected with a disease.

Patient zero refers to the person who is identified as the first person infected with a communicable disease during an outbreak.

During the coronavirus outbreak, shelter in place refers to orders for people to stay at home and not leave unless absolutely necessary.

a machine that helps a patient breathe. It pumps oxygen into the lungs and removes carbon dioxide through a tube.

A blend of COVID-19 and idiot, covidiot is a slang insult for someone who disregards healthy and safety guidelines about the novel coronavirus.

COVID toes is an informal name for reddish sores on the toes and sometimes fingers, considered a possible symptom of COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus. The disease was discovered in China in December 2019 and spread worldwide

Social distancing refers to measures that reduce contact between large groups of people such as churches, schools, concerts and sports.

Rona—often in the phrase the rona—is an informal shortening of coronavirus. Coronavirus is popularly shortened to corona, which was apparently further clipped.

scrolling on phone and computers, constantly refreshing our feeds for the latest news about the pandemic.