Coronavirus: A family of related viruses. Many of them cause respiratory illnesses. Coronaviruses cause COVID-19, SARS, MERS, and some strains of influenza, or flu. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is officially called SARS-CoV-2, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Asymptomatic: Not showing any symptoms (signs of disease or illness). Some people without any symptoms still have and can still be contagious and spread the COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC): The United States’ federal health protection organization

CDPHE: Colorado Department of Public Health and environment. Primary department in Colorado responsible for Public Health and Environment regulations

Communicable: Similar to the word, “contagious.” Used to describe diseases that can be spread or transmitted from one person to another.

Community Spread: People who have been infected with the virus in a particular area. Some may not even know where or how they were infected. 

Infection Rate: Can be referred to as incident rate. Is the probability or risk of infection in a population. Used to measure the frequency of occurrence of new cases of infection within a defined population during a specified time frame

Epidemic: A situation where more cases of disease than expected happen in a given area or to a group of people

Epidemiology: The branch of medicine that studies how diseases happen and spread in communities of people. A person who studies epidemiology is called an epidemiologist

Flattening the curve: Reducing the rate of new COVID-19 cases. The “curve” refers to a graph showing the number of cases of COVID-19 that happen over a period of time. Many cases happening in a short period of time create a graph that looks like a tall spike

Outbreak: A sudden increase of a specific illness in a small area

PPE: PPE Stands for personal protective equipment, which includes masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and other coverings used by  healthcare workers to prevent the spread of infection

Incubation period: The time between when a person is infected by a virus and when he or she notices symptoms of the disease. Estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 2-14 days