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Tutor Kelly Hartnett 's Column

Can you talk about Coronavirus?  コロナウイルスって会話できる?

Jun 26, 2020

Recently, many of my students have been talking about coronavirus during free talk. It is a hot topic and there are many new words that you may have never seen or heard before. 
最近、私の学生の多くは、フリートーク中にコロナウイルスについて話しています。 これはホットなトピックであり、これまでに見たことも聞いたこともない新しい単語がたくさんあります。
 
Here are some helpful words and phrases so you can speak in English about this current event:
ここでは、このcurrent eventについて英語で話すことができるように役立つ単語やフレーズをいくつか紹介します:


Coronavirus (コロナウイルス)- a family of viruses that have crown like spikes (corona)
Covid-19- the current coronavirus, 19 is for the virus being discovered in 2019
novel(新型)- new, never seen before (***this is not the same as "novel" meaning a book)
epidemiologist (疫学者)- a scientist who studies diseases
pandemic (パンデミック)- when a disease spreads over many countries
asymptomatic (無症候性)- showing no symptoms
shortness of breath(呼吸困難)- when it is difficult to take a full breath of air
social distancing (人混みを避ける/ソーシャルディスタンシング)- a very new phrase. It is recommended that people stay 3m (6ft) apart from each other to keep a safe distance when in public.
to infect (感染する)- catch a disease, virus, bacteria, etc.
quarantine (検疫)- separating a group of people who may be sick to prevent the spread of disease
spread (広がる・広がり)- grow, expand
essential worker (不可欠な労働者)- during the pandemic, this is a healthcare worker, grocery store worker, mail carrier, etc. They are people that are essential to keeping a community running.
non-essential (非必須)- not necessary
statistics (統計)- numerical data
disinfect (消毒する)- to sanitize, clean away bacteria/virus/germs
went out of business (廃業した)- when a business has closed permanently
unemployed (失業する)- not working, without a job temporarily or permanently

Some sentences you can use:

"Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many restaurants went out of business. Many servers are unemployed."
"We should practice social distancing and wear a mask in public."
"Some people who are infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and don't know they are infected."
"Non-essential workers should stay home."
"Statistics show you should stay under quarantine for 2 weeks."
"Many essential workers still have to work during the pandemic."
"Epidemiologists say that the coronavirus will spread quickly."
"You should wash or disinfect your hands often."

Did you learn or use any new phrases recently? Do you know any new words or phrases not on this list? 
最近、新しいフレーズを覚えたり使用したりしましたか?このリストにない新しい単語やフレーズを知っていますか?

NYC から please stay safe everyone!

~Kelly




This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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