Coronavirus Explanation

BBC

 
 
 

Vocabulary

spread	epidemic	confirmed
threat	battle (2)	respiratory
source	breathe	inhabitant
tissue	beyond	province
flu	hygiene	common cold
cough	exactly	symptom
fever	recover	infectious
sick	jump (2)	work out (2)
seem	vaccine	pneumonia
carry	fell sick	medication
avoid	prevent	manage (2)
expert	species	outbreak
sneeze	emerge	begin/began/begun
stay	like (2)	say/said/said
failure	abroad	treatment
wash	case (3)	organ (2)
worry	priority	strain (2)

 
 
 
 
 

Video: The Coronavirus, BBC

 
 
 
 

Transcript

So what do we know about the deadly strain of coronavirus that’s been spreading in China and beyond?

English Reporter: “China is battling a new and rapidly spreading respiratory virus.”
Italian Reporter: “The emergence of the SARS-like virus.

Michelle Roberts, Online Health Editor: “This is an infectious virus that’s never been seen in humans before.”

French Reporter: “This city of ten million inhabitants in the center of the country.”

Chinese Reporter: “In Guandong Province, the first case of coronavirus is confirmed.”

And it can kill.

What is the virus?

We know it’s a type of coronovirus, and it can infect our lungs. Like common colds and the flu, it seems that it can spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.

What does the coronavirus do?

The main symptoms include difficulty breathing, fever and coughing. Many people who get sick recover, but it can lead to organ failure, pneumonia and death.

How do we treat it?

Because it’s new, there’s no vaccine or treatment currently that can stop it. You can take medication to manage symptoms such as fever, but the only way to prevent infection is to avoid close contact with those who are sick or who might be carrying the virus.

Where did it start?

So it started in China, in a city called Wuhan, where hundreds of people fell sick. Experts are still trying to work out how the outbreak began, exactly, and how big a threat it is.

They say an animal may have been the source of the virus — and then it jumped species to man.

But it’s since spread to other parts of China and abroad.

How can it be prevented?

Basic hygiene such as washing your hands often and using tissues when you cough and sneeze, will help stop the spread of viruses like this.

If you think you may have coronavirus, stay at home and avoid contact with others. And call your doctor.

How worried should I be?

There’s still a lot we don’t know yet, but experts say there is more to come from this epidemic and containing it quickly is the priority.

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Questions

1. Only people in China are concerned about the coronavirus. True or false?

2. Would most people recognize the symptoms of coronavirus infections? Describe the symptoms of the coronavirus infection.

3. Is the coronavirus milder, more virulent or has the same severity as the common cold or flu virus?

4. Infected individuals can take pills or shots to completely cure themselves of the illness. Is this right or wrong?

5. Did the coronavirus escape from a pathogenic laboratory and spread among people?

6. The best way to avoid getting ill is placing a bowl of onions in every room of you house. Is this correct or incorrect?

7. Do scientist know everything about the coronavirus, it’s contagion and spread?

 

A. I have had the common cold. Yes or no?

B. Do you know anyone who never or seldom gets ill? Do know people who often get ill?

C. Why do people get sick? How can people cure themselves of the flu or cold?

D. What might happen in the future?

E. What should people and governments do?