Category: Virus

Social distancing

Everyone by now understands what social distancing is. It is sometimes referred to as physical distancing. The phrase did not enter public consciousness until the pandemic came to America in March 2020. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance (such as six feet or more) from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.” Social distancing is sometimes referred to as physical distancing.

The CDC expounds on the social distancing phrase as “an essential step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing is reducing physical interaction between people and it lowers the chances of spreading illness between people. If you are not fully vaccinated, practice social distancing by putting space (at least 6 feet) between yourself and others. It is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.“

After the initial outbreak of Covid-19, social distancing signs started to appear everywhere, even as decals on shop floors in the supermarket.

Social distancing decals on the shop floor of a Whole Foods Market in Toronto

Here are a couple of photos I took of social distancing signs during my trips to Idaho and Alaska. The photo below was taken in Idaho located just before the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The sign adds an interesting word play as social distancing would definitely apply to wild animals like bears and buffalo.

Social distancing sign In Idaho near the entrance to Yellowstone National Park

Social distancing sign in Anchorage, Alaska

Social distancing can lead to emotional distancing. Working and studying remotely can lead to isolation. Stay in touch with friends and family using the technologies available. Call a mental health professional if you find yourself getting depressed.

Social Media Trends as of May 11, 2022

Facebook #socialdistancing: 3.4 million are posting about this
Instagram #socialdistancing: 12.8 million posts
TikTok #socialdistancing: 5 billion views
YouTube #socialdistancing: 165,000 videos and 36,000 channels

Google Trends: “socialdistancing” wasn’t even a phrase before the pandemic. It appeared in Google Trends during the week of March 8, 2020 which coincided with the arrival of Covid-19. The popularity of the phrase went vertical two weeks later and finally peaked during the week of March 29, 2020 before tailing off that summer as most people by then knew what social distancing meant. The phrase entered popular culture in the spring of that year when country music singer, Luke Combs, wrote a song called “Six Feet Apart.“

Sources

Sikander, Iqbal. “Social distancing markers at a Whole Foods Market.” Wikipedia. May 1, 2020. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_distancing#/media/File:Whole_Foods_Market_-_Toronto_-_20200501110408_(cropped).jpg.

“Social distancing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 25, 2021. URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/tribal/social-distancing.html#:~:text=Social%20distancing%20is%20an%20essential,spreading%20COVID-19..

“Social distancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20distancing.

Tags 6 feet, distancing, emotional distancing, Luke Combs, physical distancing, six feet, social

Pandemic Virus

Flatten the Curve

During the outbreak of Covid-19, authorities developed national strategies to “flatten the curve” as a way to slow down the spread of Covid-19 using social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands.

The term began to appear online from March 2020. An article written for Statnews.com reports that “for many countries staring down fast-rising coronavirus case counts, the race is on to “flatten the curve.” The United States and other countries, experts say, are likely to be hit by tsunamis of Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks without aggressive public health responses. But by taking certain steps — canceling large public gatherings, for instance, and encouraging some people to restrict their contact with others — governments have a shot at stamping out new chains of transmission, while also trying to mitigate the damage of the spread that isn’t under control” (Branswell).

The epidemic curve is a visual representation of the number of infected persons requiring medical care over time. Health care systems, such as the UK’s National Health Service, can be overloaded if too many infected people seek services at the same time. This results in overcrowding and lack of patient care, and in some instances, health care rationing.

Social Media Trends as of May 9, 2022

Facebook #flattenthecurve: 617,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #flattenthecurve: 1,620,002 posts
TikTok #flattenthecurve: 149.1 million views
YouTube #flattenthecurve: 12,000 videos; 4,600 channels

Google Trends: flatten the curve peaked during the week of March 15, 2020 which coincides with the outbreak of Covid-19 when governments were quick to institute measures for reducing the spread of the infection.

Sources:

Branswell, Helen. “Why ‘flattening the curve’ may be the world’s best bet to slow the coronavirus.” Statnews.com. March 11, 2020. URL: https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/11/flattening-curve-coronavirus/.

RCraig09. “Flatten the curve” animated GIF. Wikipedia. April 3, 2020. URL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattening_the_curve#/media/File:20200403_Flatten_the_curve_animated_GIF.gif.

Tags epidemic curve, flatten

Testing Virus

Antibody Test

According to MedPageToday.com, “At-Home Antibody Testing assesses for IgM and IgG antibodies from COVID-19. The procedure is similar to a fingerstick blood glucose test…A test kit would be sent via mail or picked up at a local pharmacy or lab. Individuals would then prick their finger as for a blood glucose test. Results appear in 10-15 minutes, similar to a home pregnancy test with colorimetric reading.”

Social Media Trends as of April 30, 2022

Facebook #antibodytest: 6,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #antibodytest: 16,848 posts
TikTok #antibodytest: 4.1 million views
YouTube #antibodytest: 345 videos and 252 channels

Google Trends: antibody test reached its peak during the week of May 17, 2020.

Sources:

Shantanu Nundy, MD, MBA, and Kavita K. Patel, MD, MSHS. “Push Needed for At-Home Coronavirus Antibody Testing.” MedPageToday. April 15, 2020. URL: https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85972.

Tags test

Virus

Breakthrough case

Shortly after vaccines became available, some vaccinated individuals were still contracting Covid-19. These were called “breakthrough cases” or “breakthrough infections.”

Concerning breakthrough cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says: “Some people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick and have a vaccine breakthrough infection because no vaccine is 100% effective.”

Social Media Trends as of April 27, 2022

Facebook #breakthroughcase: people are posting about this
Instagram #breakthroughcase: 285 posts
TikTok #breakthroughcase: 7.8 million views
YouTube #breakthroughcase: less than 100 videos and channels

Google Trends: “breakthrough case” started to appear during the week of February 7, 2021 reaching its peak during the week of August 8, 2021. A second spike in activity was reached during the week of December 19, 2021 when the Omicron variant was the dominant strain.

Sources:

“Breakthrough case.” Google Trends. URL: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2019-11-30%202022-03-14&geo=US&q=%22breakthrough%20case%22.

“COVID-19 Vaccines are Effective.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dec 23, 2021. URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/index.html.

Virus

Contact Tracing

The first use of the phrase “Contact Tracing” dates back to 1910. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines Contact Tracing as “the practice of identifying, notifying, and monitoring individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of an infectious disease as a means of controlling the spread of infection.”

During the pandemic era, many individuals who contracted Covid-19 have been asked by the authorities to provide names and contact details of any person they may have come into contact with so these contacts can be asked to quarantine.

For the most part, contact tracing has ended in many countries. NBC News reported on April 26, 2022 that New York State’s “last day of COVID-19 contact tracing will be Friday, April 29 [and that] counties Tuesday began notifying people that those who test positive for COVID-19 after April 29 will not receive a text message.“

Social Media Trends as of April 27, 2022

Facebook #contacttracing: 21,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #contacttracing: 20,820 posts
TikTok #contacttracing: 14.6 million views
YouTube #contacttracing: 860 videos; 536 channels

Google Trends: contact tracing reached its peak during the week of May 10, 2020.

Sources:

castleski. “Contact tracing app concept on generic mockup smartphone for Covid-19 pandemic to trace people who have got infected by the virus.” Shutterstock.com. Standard License. Royalty-free stock vector ID: 1758976982.

“Contact tracing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact%20tracing?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld.

“NYSDOH ending contact tracing Friday. Here’s how to self-report case to counties.” WHEC-TV, LLC. A Hubbard Broadcasting Company. April 26, 2022. URL: https://www.whec.com/coronavirus/nysdoh-ending-contact-tracing-friday-what-counties-are-doing/6456108/.

Tags app, contact, corona, tracing

Virus

B.C. (before Corona)

I first heard the phrase “Before Corona” in the middle of 2020. The abbreviation “B.C.” has also been referred to as “Before Covid.”

The March 17, 2020 online edition of the New York Times published an opinion written by Thomas L. Friedman where he says: “There is the world B.C. – Before Corona – and the world A.C. – After Corona. We have not even begun to fully grasp what the A.C. world will look like.”

The phrase appeared in a meme depicting a black and white photo of a restaurant scene “before Corona”. This reflects the general thoughts and feelings during lockdown when restaurants were forced to close and people could no longer go out to eat and mingle freely.

A popular meme that appeared in social media

Social Media Trends as of April 27, 2022

Facebook #beforecorona: 24,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #beforecorona: 151,032 posts
TikTok #beforecorona: 77.2 million views
YouTube #beforecorona: 426 videos; 327 channels

Google Trends: before Corona reached its peak in March 2020.

Sources:

“A Photo Of People Eating In A Restaurant 2019 BC (Before Corona).” Shut Up And Take My Money. URL: https://www.shutupandtakemymoney.com/a-photo-of-people-eating-in-a-restaurant-2019-bc-before-corona-meme/.

Friedman, Thomas L. “Our New Historical Divide: B.C. and A.C. — the World Before Corona and the World After.” The New York Times. March 17, 2020. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-trends.html.

Tags corona, covid

Virus

Covid-19

A press conference held on February 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization announced the origins of the virus name COVID-19:

“First of all we now have a name for the disease and it is CoViD-19 and I will spell it; C O V I D – 19. Co – C O – stands for corona, as you know; V I stands for virus; D for disease so CoViD. Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organisation – meaning WHO, OAE and FAO of the United Nations; we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease. Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatising. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.”

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines Covid-19 as “a mild to severe respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 of the genus Betacoronavirus), is transmitted chiefly by contact with infectious material (such as respiratory droplets) or with objects or surfaces contaminated by the causative virus, and is characterized especially by fever, cough, and shortness of breath and may progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure.”

Social Media Trends as of April 24, 2022

Facebook #covid19: 15 million people are posting about this
Instagram #covid19: 46.4 million posts
TikTok #covid19: 98.6 billion views
YouTube #covid19: 2.5 million videos; 629,000 channels

Google Trends: covid19 reached its peak during the week of March 22, 2020.

Sources:

“Coronavirus press conference.” World Health Organization. 11 February 2020. URL: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergencies-coronavirus-full-press-conference-11feb2020-final.pdf.

“COVID-19.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/COVID-19.

Tags covid

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