COVID-19_publics_glossary_230420

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J
1	Collated public glossaries related to COVID-19
2	Item	Source
3	Item	Requested additions	Age UK	BBC news	i-CONSENT	National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)	OPB.org	The Conversation	Vox	Young Scot's Jargon Buster
4							An old name for the virus that causes COVID-19. It is now called SARS-CoV-2
5	ACE2							A protein on the cells in your airways that coronavirus attaches to
6	Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)		ARDS stands for acute respiratory distress syndrome. The disease, a possible complication of the new coronavirus, kills 30% to 40% of the people who get it. About one in 100 people with coronavirus get ARDS				An often-fatal failure of the respiratory system. When an illness is called “acute,” it means it comes on really quickly, which makes getting treatment fast necessary. People with ARDS breathe rapidly, are short of breath and might have bluish skin. ARDS is a potential complication of COVID-19, and it can happen very quickly. If you are experiencing those symptoms, go to the doctor immediately.
7	Airborne particles/droplets	Airborne particles cannot be seen by eye. They can hang suspended in the air as they dont weigh much. Droplets are thought to travel only short distances after someone coughs or sneezes before falling to the floor or onto other surfaces.
8	Airborne transmission				Some infectious diseases such as COVID-19 may be transmitted person to person through ‘Airborne transmission’. In this case, viruses coming from an infected person (I.e. after coughing or sneezing) remain alive suspended in air for some time and can infect other persons.
9	Alveoli						The tiny air-filled sacs that make up our lungs. Lungs aren’t like big balloons. They’re more like sponges made up of millions of tiny balloons. There are cells in our alveoli that make a protein that lubricates our lungs and keeps them happy. The COVID-19 virus binds to those cells. Researchers think that may be why the virus is so much more severe than the cold-causing coronavirus.
10	Anosmia	The loss of the sense of smell, either total or partial. It may be caused by head injury, infection, or blockage of the nose
11	Antibacterial						Kills bacteria — but not viruses. Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soap against viruses like the coronavirus.
12	Antibiotic						A medication that kills bacteria. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, but they are an important part of treating secondary infections like bacterial pneumonia, which can occur as a side-effect of COVID-19.
13	Antibody							Large Y-shaped proteins that stick to the surface of bacteria and viruses.
14	Antibody test			A medical test that can show if a person has had the coronavirus and now has some immunity. The test detects antibodies in the blood, which are produced by the body to fight off the disease.						This is a test to see if you've had the COVID-19 virus at some point in the past. It means that if you have had it, you should be immune from it (not able to catch it again) and not able pass it on to others.
15	Antigen							A foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body – especially the production of antibodies
16	Antigen test									This is a test to see if you have the COVID-19 virus. The results will come back either positive or negative and will let people know if they have the virus or not. A type of antigen test is the PCR procedure (or polymerase chain reaction), which you might here referred to in the news.
17	Antimicrobial						Antimicrobial products kill most microbes, like viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% isopropyl alcohol is antimicrobial. Some hand sanitizers are only antibacterial and will not protect against coronavirus.
18	Antiretroviral drugs						These are drugs that attack retroviruses like HIV. Antiretrovirals block or slow down an enzyme that retroviruses use to chop up DNA. If a virus can’t chop DNA, it can’t make more of itself and can’t make you sick. Because coronavirus also uses this enzyme, there was some hope that already existing antiretrovirals could fight the COVID-19 virus. Unfortunately, there’s little evidence that it works on coronavirus. But hope is not lost — there are other antivirals out there! There are currently clinical trials investigating if the antiviral drug remdesivir works against coronavirus.
19	Asymptomatic		A term for person who has COVID-19 but is showing no symptoms of the virus.	Someone who has a disease but does not have any of the symptoms it causes. Some studies suggest some people with coronavirus carry the disease but don't show the common symptoms, such as a persistent cough or high temperature.	An infected person with no COVID-19 symptoms. In the early stages of the infection, a person may still not be symptomatic.	This is where you are not showing any symptoms that you have COVID-19. However, you can still pass the virus on to others.	When you aren’t showing symptoms. There is some evidence for asymptomatic spread of COVID-19, but those may be cases with mild symptoms that went unreported.			Asymptomatic means the absence of any symptoms of a disease. This means that you could have an infection but not feel any ill effects or even notice any signs that you are suffering from it. Scientists believe the risk of passing on coronavirus if you're asymptomatic is low because it's mostly passed on through droplets which collect in the air when someone coughs. However, if you sneeze or have a cough, even a mild one, it is possible to pass on the virus.
20	At-risk groups					s There are some groups of people who may be more at-risk of serious illness if they catch COVID-19. You are more at risk of serious illness if you catch COVID-19 and you: • are 60 years of age and over - people over 75 are particularly vulnerable, • have a long-term medical condition - for example, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer or high blood pressure, and • have a weak immune system (immunosuppressed)
21	Attack rate				The proportion of the population infected with COVID-19 to date
22	Bacteria				are microscopic living organisms that can be found everywhere. They can be dangerous and cause infections or beneficial as in the fermentation process in wine.
23	Body temperature					The normal adult body temperature is 36.5 to 37 degrees Celsius. A high temperature or fever is 38 degrees Celsius or above.
24	Case					This is a person with COVID-19. (An index case is the first documented case in a population, region, or family.)
25	Case fatality rate (CFR)				Number of deaths with relation to the number of people infected with COVID-19 within a defined time period. Sometimes called lethality.		The number of sick people who die from a specific disease. You calculate case fatality ratio by taking the number of people who have died from a disease and dividing it by the number of people who got that disease.A CFR can change over space and time. Estimates of the case fatality rate for COVID-19 have varied from .7% to 4% or occasionally higher, depending on when the rate was sampled, how it was sampled and the quality of care those people received. Right now, the WHO says the global case fatality rate is about 3.4%. This number will continue changing as more people get infected and the disease spreads to countries with better and worse health care.	The percentage of confirmed cases that resulted in death is the case fatality rate, or CFR. The World Health Organization currently estimates the CFR for COVID-19 to be about 3.4%. But this number is likely to come down as more tests are performed and we identify more of the large number of cases with no symptoms. In South Korea, where lots of testing was performed, the CFR is about 1.5%.	The death rate. This figure explains what percentage of Covid-19 cases are fatal. It varies by country and age group, and the final figure will depend on figuring out the true number of cases (which is hard to estimate without widespread testing).
26	CDC		The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, headquartered in Atlanta. The CDC is a federal agency overseeing public health.				Stands for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is the U.S. agency that tracks diseases across the country, and is responsible for confirming COVID-19 cases. The main lab is in Atlanta, but the agency has other labs around the country where the study of deadly diseases and the search for cures take place
27	Chain of infection					This is how an infection spreads from one person to another. This can also be called chain of transmission. You can read more on this in the HSE Patient Safety sheet on germs.
28	Chief Medical Officer									There are four Chief Medical Officers in the UK, one to represent each nation. In Scotland, Dr Catherine Calderwood is our Chief Medical Officer, and they are responsible for improving the mental and physical well-being of the people who live in the country. They have been giving information and advice to people who work in the NHS, as well as the public, about COVID-19.
29	Chloroquine								Antimalarial drugs hyped by President Trump (despite weak evidence) as being potentially useful in treating Covid-19. Clinical trials of these drugs are underway, but early evidence is still not clear they prove useful. These aren’t the only drugs currently being tested to treat Covid-19: Doctors are also testing antiviral medication and some HIV drugs. These drugs are also used to treat arthritis and lupus, as they also have anti-inflammatory properties.
30	Chronic	Chronic diseases—those that go on for a long time and often don’t go away completely
31	Circulatory system						The system that moves blood through your body. Blood transports nutrients and oxygen.
32	Clinical Trials		New drugs and vaccines used to fight disease are tested on humans and/or animals in research studies called clinical trials.			These are types of research that study the effectiveness and safety of medications (such as vaccines) by monitoring their effects on large groups of people.	A designed trial to test the effectiveness of a medication or treatment. Clinical trials include “controls.” A control is a person or group or lab specimen that doesn’t receive the new treatment. The goal is to see if the treatment really works, or if it’s just a placebo effect or caused by something else.
33	Close contact					This can mean someone: • spending more than 15 minutes face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person • living in the same house or sharing accommodation with an infected person Source: HSE webpage on Symptoms and causes
34	Cluster					This refers to a small group of people in a particular space who all have the same disease. For example, a cluster of people in nursing homes or hospitals.
35	Cocooning					This is where certain groups of people (such as over 65s and people with health issues) will stay in their homes to avoid contact with any person who may have COVID-19.
36	Community spread				The spread of a contagious disease to individuals in a particular geographic location who have had no contact with other infected individuals or travelled to an area where the disease has documented cases.
37	Community transmission		Cases of disease that happen in communities without researchers knowing the person with the disease contracted it.			This occurs where a person who gets COVID-19: • has not travelled to an affected area, and • has no connection to a known case.	When a virus is being passed from person to person in a community and starts appearing in people who aren’t known to have contact with an infected person. Many of the people sick in Oregon got their virus from community transmission. It is concerning because there are a chunk of cases health authorities do not know about.
38	Communicable		Communicable means “capable of being easily communicated (spread) or transmitted.” COVID-19 is a communicable disease.			This means that coronavirus can be spread from one person to another.
39	Co-morbidity				More than one disease or condition is present in the same person at the same time. i.e. Having diabetes or heart problems when being infected with COVID-19.	This means having two different health conditions at the same time. COVID19 has been found to be particularly severe for people who have other health issues.
40	Compromised immune system					This is where you have a weak immune system (immunosuppressed). There are many things that can cause a weak immune system, including: • cancer treatment • treatment for autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel diseases • HIV • having an organ transplant or a bone-marrow transplant Source: HSE webpage on At-risk groups and coronavirus
41	Confirmed Case		When a person suspected of having coronavirus is tested and confirmed to have the virus by the CDC.		A person with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 infection, irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms		A coronavirus case that has been confirmed by the CDC.		The number of Covid-19 cases that have been confirmed by diagnostic testing. Due to a shortage of tests, the actual number of cases that exist is likely much higher.
42	Contact					Contact with someone with COVID-19 can include direct contact and indirect contact which can spread the virus. 1. Direct contact is when you breathe in droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze through the air. That’s why keeping your distance to 2 metres apart is important. 2. Indirect contact is when you touch something that the infected person has touched with the virus and it is spread to you. That’s why cleaning regularly touched surfaces like door handles, light switches and so on is important				There's been some confusion around what exactly counts as 'contact' when we talk about social distancing or isolation. Contact means more than physically touching others. Although the coronavirus doesn't seem to be in the air, it can be transmitted through droplets when people cough or sneeze. Avoiding contact means making sure you are always at least two metres away from other people during your daily exercise or when food shopping.
43	Contact tracing		When health officials follow the trail of people a person with the virus has come in contact with.		Method for controlling the COVID-19 outbreak by searching, identifying and follow-up of people who may have been in contact with an infected case.	When the health authorities try to find who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 to see who else may be at risk of catching it. Source: Journal.ie contact tracing explainer
44	Contagion rate				Rate of infection transmission of COVID-19 by direct contact.
45	Contagious					This means that a disease can be spread from one person to another, typically by direct contact. This is why we don’t shake hands with people during this COVID-19 outbreak.
46	Contain phase			The first part of the UK's strategy to deal with the coronavirus, which involved trying to identify infected people early and trace anyone who had been in close contact with them.						The UK Government has four different phases (contain, delay, research and mitigate) of dealing with COVID-19 to make sure the public are as safe as possible. The first phase we were in was the contain phase. The contain phase was about finding the first cases of COVID-19 in the country and making sure the people they were in close contact with were okay. It was about trying to make sure as few people caught it as possible. We have now moved into the delay phase.
47	Containment area		A geographic area where a cluster of cases of disease have occurred and strict social distancing or isolation measures have been ordered.
48	Containment phase					Steps introduced to prevent the virus from spreading for as long as possible, such as identifying early cases and trying to establish who the infected person has been in contact with. Source: RTÉ website: the terminology of COVID-19
49	Containment strategy					Process of preventing transmission of COVID-19 from an infected individual to others. This means isolating a person with COVID-19 from other people.
50	Contamination					This is a process of infecting or staining something making it impure or spoiled
51	Contingency plan				System of measures and steps designed to rapidly tackle emergency situations and disasters.
52	Cordon sanitaire								The restriction of movement in and out of a region or city. China imposed one on the city of Wuhan during the early days of the outbreak.
53	Coronavirus		Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that are fairly common both in people and animals. One variation of the virus causes the cold. It is believed that the virus was transferred from an animal to a human, something coronavirus can do. It is sometimes called novel coronavirus because this strain of the virus has not been seen before (novel meaning new). For a bonus definition, the exact variation of the virus we are dealing with right now is called SARS-CoV-2. Other variations of the virus such as HCoV-229E or HCoV-OC43 cause the common cold.	One of a group of viruses that can cause severe or mild illness in humans and animals. The coronavirus currently sweeping the world causes the disease Covid-19. The common cold and influenza (flu) are other types of coronaviruses.	A family of viruses that cause different diseases in the human species, most of them mild.		A group of RNA viruses that circulate in animals and humans. In humans, they cause respiratory illnesses, which means they cause symptoms in the lungs, throat, and airways.		This is a family of viruses that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to (technically they are known as betacoronaviruses, but you can just say coronavirus). The 2003 SARS outbreak was a coronavirus, as was MERS in 2012. They are named coronaviruses because of their shape. When viewed through a microscope, the individual virus looks like a sphere surrounded by a spiky crown (or corona).	Coronaviruses are a large family of different viruses which can cause illness in animals or humans. Each coronavirus is slightly different, but in humans, they all cause issues with your respiratory system, which is what helps you breathe. This can range from something like the common cold to more serious infections or diseases.
54	Coronavirus Act (formerly Coronavirus Bill)									The Coronavirus Act is a law that came into effect on the 25th of March 2020. Its purpose is to give the UK Government emergency powers to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. It includes powers to:recruit NHS staff and social workers more quickly; relax certain regulations to ease the burden on key workers such as NHS staff; stop public gatherings in line with the measures introduced on the 23rd March; force businesses such as shops and restaurants to close. The Act is a temporary, emergency law put in place for up to two years, but may be extended if required. You can find out more about the Act on the gov.scot website.
55	Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill									The Act is a temporary, emergency law put in place for up to two years, but may be extended if required. You can find out more about the Act on the gov.scot website.Details can be found on the Scottish Parliament's website. Among other things, the act advises:extended protection from eviction for tenants while confined to their homes. lessens pressures on public services, business and consumers and enable continued operation of services while controls on movements are in place. enables the justice system it to continue to deliver essential services. The majority of measures will automatically expire six months after coming into force. They may be extended for two further periods of six months, giving a maximum duration of 18 months.
56	COVID-19		The name of the disease/illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. An analogy to help you understand this a little better - Coronavirus is like the herb family 'mint' (or Lamiaceae to give it the proper name). There are lots of different types of mint - spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm, sage, basil, thyme, lavender, oregano, sweet marjoram, rosemary, after dinner mints ... SARS-CoV-2 (and the resulting Covid-19) is like eating a specific one of these plants - let's take after-dinner mints. How strongly your breath then smells of mint (or how poorly you feel with Covid-19) will depend entirely on your biology - some people will smell strongly of mint, other people won't smell of mint at all and some people will discover they are really allergic! And yes, I was surprised to find out that Sage, Basil, Thyme, Lavender, etc.. were part of the mint family too!	The disease caused by the coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It primarily affects the lungs		The name COVID19 comes from the year it was first detected (2019) and using letters from CO-rona-VIrus D-disease.. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Source: World Health Organisation https://who.int It is new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory (breathing) illness and recover without needing special treatment. COVID-19 is spread by sneeze or cough droplets. To infect you, it has to get from an infected person's nose or mouth into your eyes, nose or mouth. This can be direct (from droplets) or indirect (on hands, objects, surfaces). Source: HSE	The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.	The disease, not the virus that causes the disease. That’s SARS-CoV-2	The disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. If you’re sick, you have Covid-19. You were infected by SARS-CoV-2. (If you’re still confused, think about how the HIV virus causes AIDS.)	This is the name of the disease that is caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. It can affect your lungs and airways.
57	CT scan						“Computer Tomography scan.” It’s an advanced type of X-ray that makes a more detailed image. CT scans can help identify suspected coronavirus patients.
58	Decontamination	The process of cleansing an object or substance to remove contaminants such as micro-organisms or hazardous materials, including chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious diseases.
59	Delay phase			The second part of the UK's strategy to deal with the coronavirus, in which measures such as social distancing are used to delay its spread.		In this phase the government has taken measures to reduce the peak impact of the COVID-19 and to slow its spread. For example, shutting schools and colleges and placing restrictions on public gatherings are measures to reduce the impact on COVID-19. Source: RTÉ website: the terminology of COVID-19				The delay phase is the second phase and is about slowing down the spread of the virus and making sure that the NHS doesn't have too many patients at the same time - especially during the already busy winter period when lots of people tend to become unwell.
60	Diagnostics					The way healthcare staff identify a particular illness by examining signs and symptoms.
61	Disease					An illness that affects a person, animal, or plant. It can prevent the body and mind from working normally.
62	Disinfectant					This is a chemical liquid that kills bacteria. A common disinfectant is bleach.
63	DNA	DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.					Deoxyribonucleic acid. Many of our genes are stored in DNA. Some are stored in RNA. DNA is a sort of blueprint. It tells our bodies how to grow, assemble themselves, and go about the business of living. Coronaviruses are RNA viruses, so they don’t contain DNA
64	Encephalitis						An infection that causes the brain to inflame. It can be extremely dangerous and fatal. Coronaviruses are known to infect the brain, spine and nervous system in lab animals. One case of viral encephalitis was linked to COVID-19, but it is not a major concern with the virus.
65	Endemic					The constant presence of a disease in a population within a certain area. Source: RTÉ website: the terminology of COVID-19		Not to be confused with “epidemic”. A disease that is regularly found among a particular group or in a particular region, such as malaria.	A disease that regularly infects humans, like the flu, strep throat, or any common illness. There are four coronavirus strains that commonly infect humans, usually manifesting as colds. It’s possible that SARS-CoV-2 becomes endemic, too.
66	Enzyme						An enzyme is a molecule made up of different proteins. They’re molecules that our bodies use to do things. The enzyme myosin makes muscles contract, and the enzyme insulin tells our blood when to absorb sugar. Viruses use enzymes to hijack our cells and make copies of themselves. Many antiviral treatments work by targeting enzymes: to fight a viral infection, you take away the tools a virus needs to make more of itself.
67	Epidemic		An outbreak of disease in a community during a set period of time.		An epidemic is an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time.	This is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease – more than what's typically expected for the population in that area.	A large outbreak of disease, taking place over a short period of time. An epidemic might infect a region or a country. Epidemics usually happen when a new disease emerges or when something happens to make people less immune to a disease. A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads to multiple large regions, like several continents or countries.	The widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a population at a particular time. So COVID-19 is a pandemic (because of its global spread), but it is also an epidemic in the UK, for example.	A disease that’s spreading over a wide area. An epidemic is a less severe designation than a pandemic, but there is an overlap between the two terms. And yes, it’s a bit confusing: “While a pandemic may be characterized as a type of epidemic, you would not say that an epidemic is a type of pandemic,” Merriam-Webster explains. The 2015-2016 spread of the Zika virus through South and Central America and the Caribbean was an epidemic.
68	Epidemic curve				An epidemic curve shows progression of illnesses in an outbreak over time (day, week, or month).
69	Epidemiologist		Someone who studies diseases within certain populations.
70	Epidemiology					The study of the spread or pattern of sickness in a group of people.	The study of how infectious diseases spread, occur, and are controlled. John Snow (not to be confused with the character Jon Snow of “Game of Thrones” fame) is considered the founder of modern epidemiology. He famously traced a 19th-century cholera epidemic to a contaminated water pump and the pump handle. He chlorinated the water and removed the pump handle, and the disease ended. Today, sometimes epidemiologists talk about tracing modern diseases back to the metaphorical “Pump Handle.” We still haven’t found it for coronavirus.
71	Essential/key workers									Essential' or 'key' workers include police, health and social staff, and people who work in shops selling food and other important products. A full list of jobs which are considered essential is available from the Scottish Government. With schools closing, the Government has advised that children and young people should stay home wherever possible to lower the spread of the coronavirus. Schools will remain open only for those that absolutely can't stay at home. This includes children of 'essential' or 'key' workers, these are parents or carers that have a critical part to play in the COVID-19 response.
72	Exponential growth					This means that numbers increase over time very rapidly as they multiply every day. For example: • 2 people infect 2 more people each meaning 4 people are infected. • 4 people infect 4 more people each meaning 16 people are infected. • 16 people infect 16 more people each meaning 356 people are infected and so on.
73	Extremely high risk (or people most at risk)									COVID-19 can make anyone become unwell. But there are some people who are more likely to become very unwell if they were to get coronavirus. The people most at risk are being contacted by the NHS. People who are extremely high risk include those having treatment for cancer, have a lung condition like cystic fybrosis or severe asthma or are taking medicine that makes them more likely to get infections. You can find a list on the NHS website. If you're extremely high risk you need to do something known as 'shielding' which is defined below.
74	False information					False information is news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Always get your facts through trusted sources: Source: Webwise – what is false information (fake news) www.webwise.ie Irish sources: • the Health Service Executive (HSE) • www.gov.ie website Fact checkers: • World Health Organisation – myths busters • The International Fact-checking Network (IFCN) have a fact-check database • The Irish news website www.thejournal.ie will fact check any COVID19 claims
75	False negative				Occurs when the test result is negative in a person who is actually infected. Every test has a number of false positives and negatives. The less you have of both, the more powerful the test is.
76	False positive				Occurs when the test result is positive in a person who is not actually infected. Every test has a number of false positives and negatives. The less you have of both, the more powerful the test is.
77	Fatality rate		The number of people infected with a disease that die from that disease. The fatality rate for the coronavirus now is estimated to be about 1%. However, until more are tested, the number may not be that accurate. It is likely to be less than that.
78	Fever					A fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, often due to an illness. A high temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or above. Your body’s normal temperature is between 36 and 36.8 degrees Celsius. More on fever here on the HSE website			Generally, a fever is when the body temperature exceeds 100.4°F, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But there is some variability here. Human bodies tend to be coldest when we wake up. So a 100.4-degree fever in the morning might grow a little hotter throughout the day. Some people also run a little hotter or colder than others. The CDC advises “fever may be considered to be present if a person has not had a temperature measurement but feels warm to the touch, or gives a history of feeling feverish.”
79	Flatten the curve		Flatten the curve means slowing the spread of an epidemic disease so 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.	Health experts use a line on a chart to show numbers of new coronavirus cases. If a lot of people get the virus in a short period of time, the line might rise sharply and look a bit like a mountain. However, taking measures to reduce infections can spread cases out over a longer period and means the "curve" is flatter. This makes it easier for health systems to cope.	Flattening the curve consists of delaying the highest point of number of cases, distributing it over a longer period of time. This allows health workers and hospitals to have more time to prepare and avoid saturation of health centers	This means reducing the rate at which people become infected with COVID19. If that rate is pictured as a curve, they would rather it look low and long than high and narrow. Source: journal.ie article This is our goal as we fight COVID-19 because if we control the spread then we reduce the cases arriving into hospitals at the same time.		Hospitals can only cope with so many patients. Flattening the curve is an attempt to reduce how many cases of COVID-19 occur at the same time so that hospitals aren’t overwhelmed.		You might have seen or heard this phrase quite a lot. It's about making sure that there isn't a big increase in people catching COVID-19 all at the same time to make sure that there are enough hospital beds, and medical staff, to look after everyone. By flattening the curve - making sure that there are fewer people all infected at the same time - the NHS will be less stressed, there will be fewer hospital visits on any given day and doctors and nurses will have more time to treat more people. This is achieved by things like social distancing, which makes sure that people stay away from each other to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
80	Flu			Short for influenza, a virus that routinely causes disease in humans and animals, in seasonal epidemics.		Flu (influenza) is a severe infection caused by a virus. The flu virus infects your lungs and upper airways. More on flu here on the HSE website.
81	Furlough									If your job is affected by COVID-19 and, as a result, your employer can't cover your wages, they can apply for a Government grant for 80% (up to a cap of £2,500 a month) of your pay through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This would mean that you become 'furloughed'. While you are furloughed, you stay on your employer's payroll but don't work for the duration. Your employer can choose to pay you the remaining 20% of your wage but doesn't have to. The Government intends for the scheme to last for three months from 1st March 2020, but will extend if necessary. More information is available on the gov.uk website.
82	Genbank						An online database of genetic sequences from around the world and maintained by the national library of medicine.
83	Gov.ie website					This is a central website for government services and information.
84	Hand hygiene and handwashing					Hand hygiene is a way of cleaning your hands that reduces harmful bacteria on them and stops the spread of harmful germs. The HSE and the Government have recommended that we wash our hands regularly using soap and water. Sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice while washing your hands – this takes 20 seconds. Watch a video here. More from the HSE on how to clean your hands and a hand hygiene poster.
85	Health literacy					Strong health literacy is important as we are dealing with a lot of health information during this COVID-19 outbreak. It has two elements: 1. Health services and health care professionals communicate clearly and take account of possible health literacy and numeracy needs. 2. People understand health information correctly and can make an informed decision Source: NALA Factsheet on health literacy and numeracy
86	Herd immunity			How the spread of a disease slows after a sufficiently large proportion of a population has been exposed to it.		This is when a high percentage of the community is immune to a disease, usually through vaccination and/or prior illness.		When a large number of people in a population are immune to a disease, either through vaccination of through having the disease naturally, it is difficult for that disease to spread. For highly infectious disease, such as measles, if 95% of the population is vaccinated, the number of cases of the disease will be dramatically reduced and can even be wiped out. For COVID-19, which is less infectious than measles, herd immunity would work if around 60%-70% of the population was vaccinated.	Herd immunity occurs when enough people become immune to a disease — either through exposure or via a vaccine — that the spread of the disease begins to slow, or stop, within a population. Right now, immunity to Covid-19 is not well understood. In time, researchers will be able to test the blood of people who have recovered from Covid-19 in the weeks and months following their infection and see if they still are immune. And those studies will teach us about whether we, collectively, can develop herd immunity to Covid-19.
87	HSE					The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides all of Ireland's public health services in hospitals and communities across the country. They are leading the information campaign about COVID-19 and are the best source for information about Ireland.
88	High risk (or people at increased risk)									COVID-19 can make anyone become unwell. But there are some people who are more likely to have a tougher time getting over the virus. People who are high risk include people who are 70 or older, are pregnant or have a medical condition that may increase their risk from coronavirus. People who are high at risk should leave the house as little as possible, following the same rules as most other people. If you're pregnant and worried about coronavirus there is specific information available via the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
89	High temperature/fever									Your normal body temperature is approximately 37C (98.6F). A fever is usually when your body temperature is 38C (100.4F) or more. You may feel warm, cold or shivery. You can find out if you have a fever by using a thermometer to take your temperature.
90	In vitro						A lab test done on cells, not living things. We do in vitro tests on drugs, diseases and chemicals to see how they impact human cells.
91	In vivo						A lab test on a living organism, whether that’s a plant or an animal or something else. Drugs are usually tested in vivo to make sure they’re safe and that they work.
92	Immune			A person whose body can withstand or fend off a disease is said to be immune to it. Once a person has recovered from the disease caused by the coronavirus, Covid-19, for example, it is thought they cannot catch it again for a certain period of time.
93	Immune system	The immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins that defends the body against infection. The immune system keeps a record of every germ (microbe) it has ever defeated so it can recognise and destroy the microbe quickly if it enters the body again
94	Immunisation					This is process where a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, usually by giving them a vaccine.
95	Immunocompromised	Having a weakened immune system. Patients who are immunocompromised have a reduced ability to fight infections and other diseases. This may be caused by certain diseases or conditions, such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, and certain genetic disorders. It may also be caused by certain medicines or treatments, such as anticancer drugs, radiation therapy, and stem cell or organ transplant. Also called immunosuppressed.					An immune system that isn’t functioning correctly. You can be immunocompromised by diseases like AIDS or taking some anti-cancer drugs, but you can also be immunocompromised by losing sleep, not drinking enough water and eating poorly. Pregnant women aren’t considered immunocompromised, but changes to their immune system can make them more susceptible to some diseases.
96	Immunosuppresssed						People with immune systems that are (usually artificially) weakened. People with organ transplants take immunosuppressants to stop their immune systems from attacking the organs. Immunosuppressed people are also immunocompromised.
97	Incubation period		The period of time between being exposed to a virus and when you first show symptoms of the disease.	The period of time between catching a disease and starting to display symptoms.	The time between the virus’ entrance in the body and the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease.	The time between when you are exposed to the virus and when symptoms and signs become obvious.	The amount of time it takes for an infected person to start showing symptoms. Most people develop COVID-19 symptoms by day 12, but some people will take longer.	This is the length of time between being infected and showing symptoms. Most people show symptoms within five days of being infected within SARS-CoV-2, but it can take up to two weeks.
98	Infection					This occurs when germs enter the body, causing it to display symptoms as it tries to destroy the harmful germs. Source: HSE Patient Safety sheet on germs.
99	Infodemic					This is when there is too much information – some accurate and some not. An infodemic can make it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it. Source: WHO Situation Report 13, February 2020
100	Isolation		Keeping someone who is sick with a disease away from anyone who is not providing medical care to that person.			The process of separating something from other things. Self-isolation means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. You need to do this if you have symptoms of COVID-19. This is to stop other people from getting it. More information from the HSE.			Separating people with confirmed or probable infections from other healthy people, so that they can get better without infecting anyone else. One member of a household could be in isolation (perhaps in a designated room that others do not enter), while the other members of the household are in quarantine (free to move around the home but not enter the isolation area).