Epidemic, pandemic, quarantine, lockdown, social isolation and even more specific terms such as Sars-Cov-2, covid-19, outbreak spikes or contagion curve flattening can cause a real knot in anyone’s head. Are you confused just by reading this list of terms? No problems. Check out the “mini-dictionary” we have prepared for you and, the next time you read an article or watch a newscast, make sure you understand exactly what is happening. 1 – Coronavirus Family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. The first human coronaviruses were isolated for the first time in 1937. In 1965, he was christened by the profile under microscopy, looking like a crown. 2 – Sars-Cov-2 Name of the new coronavirus, responsible for the disease that has spread around the world. 3 – Covid-19 Respiratory disease caused by Sars-Cov-2. 4 – Incubation period Time between the moment of contagion and the first symptoms. In the meantime, the infected person is already able to infect other people, even without showing any symptoms. 5 – Asymptomatic patients People who, even if infected, have no symptoms. Still, they can transmit the disease to other individuals. 6 – Risk group Group formed by those who are at great risk of being infected or having complications if contagion happens. 7 – Suspicious cases Patients who have symptoms but have not yet been confirmed by an examination. 8 – Confirmed cases People who have been tested and tested positive for the disease. 9 – Epidemic Unusual increase in cases of a certain disease that affects a region or country. For example, in the case of the new coronavirus, when it was restricted to China, it was, until then, an epidemic. 10 – Pandemic Proliferation of the disease worldwide. It occurs after three phases: imported cases, when people return to the country of origin after being contaminated in affected places; local transmission, when people who have not traveled contract the disease from travelers, making it possible to identify the source of the contamination and isolate the cases; community transmission, when the source of infection is no longer controlled. 11 – Contagion curve Number of new people infected in a given period of time. 12 – Peak contagion Maximum time of simultaneous contamination, showing stability and subsequent regression, with the decrease of new cases from there. 13 – Flattening of the contagion curve Measures taken to slow down the rate of contamination and prevent, for example, health systems from being overloaded with high patient demand. 14 – Social isolation or distance Avoid, voluntarily or not, leaving the house unnecessarily and staying away from physical social interactions to contain the spread of the disease. 15 – Quarantine Administrative act issued by competent authorities and entities suspending public activities, such as determining the closure of shops, schools and concert halls, in order to prevent agglomerations and the like. 16 – Lockdown Stricter quarantine regime, in which people are recommended or even forced to stay at home – including those connected to essential services. 17 – State of emergency Warns of imminent damage to health or public services, which allows extraordinary decisions to be taken to avoid them. 18 – State of calamity Decree after the installed situation, allowing even more drastic measures, such as more unforeseen investments before the problem in question. 19 – Fatality rate Average number of people who died after infection. 20 – Mortality rate Average risk of death based on the number of people who died compared to the total number of infected people. If you still have any questions, be sure to continue following our stories. We do our best to provide clear and quality information.
