COVID-19 Glossary Update

Illustration by Drew Andersen for The Corsair

Bell Curve: The curve records reported cases of COVID-19 cases. The peak is in the middle and shows the greatest number of people diagnosed with the virus within a specific time frame. The curve accelerates upward, reaches a peak, then slopes downward

Community Transmission: Transmission between two people who have not left the community. This type of transmission contrasts with a contagious transmission coming from the outside the community, for example, a traveler from China. 

Flattening the Curve: Refers flattening the Bell Curve by means of a community isolation measures that keep the daily number of disease cases at a manageable level for medical providers. Efforts to completely contain COVID-19 have failed.

False Equivalency: A logical fallacy in which an equivalence is drawn between two subjects based on flawed or false reasoning. This fallacy is categorized as a fallacy of inconsistency. Data about COVID-19 pandemic is minimized by comparison to the annual seasonal flu. A colloquial expression of false equivalency is "comparing apples and oranges."

Fatality Rate Formula: The number of fatalities due to COVID-19, divided by the number of persons diagnosed with the virus. The problem with this formula is knowing the actual amount of people with the virus, because a) there are people who show no symptoms but are highly contagious, and b) there is insufficient testing for detecting the virus and data collection available to measure the magnitude of those infected with the virus.
Hazardous Material (Hazmat) Suits: U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines a hazmat suit as “an overall garment worn to protect people from hazardous materials or substances.”

Hydroxychloroquine is antimalarial drug to treat an autoimmune disorder, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Product is in high demand for possible effect on COVID-19 virus but has not yet been verified as an effective treatment. 

Mask: Protective item worn over the mouth and nose to avoid breathing harmful or contagious material airborne particles.

Blue Cone style procedural face mask with headband. The mass produced product and most common mask is used as a precaution for airborne droplets to reduce the risk of respiratory infection but does not provide effective virus protection from COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

Surgical mask has three layers. An outer layer catches airborne contaminates like a windshield. The middle layer filters microbes. And the inner layer actually contacts facial tissue and acts as a final buffer from stuff filtered in the middle layer. A mask is good for about 8 hours for optimal protection.

N-95 face mask is worn by medical workers in high alert areas of infection. Medἰcal-grade carbon filter (PM2.5) traps and filters air molecules from deadly viruses, flu and bacteria. Filters 95.99 percent of viruses including COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): Worn by hospital workers—physicians, nurses — to prevent transmission of infectious disease. Ensemble includes a bonnet cover hair, disposable gown covers from neck to ankle worn over the hospital workers’ scrubs Additional protection required are: A95 surgical mask or respirator apparatus. Clear plastic face shield.