Glossary of COVID-19 Terms

Asymptomatic refers to someone who has no symptoms. In the case of COVID-19, this refers to someone who has:

• Recovered from the COVID-19 and no longer has symptoms
• Never develops any symptoms of COVID-19 although they test positive for the disease

There are several actions that individuals and communities can take to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 among their families, friends, and communities. In general, the more cases that exist in a community, the more likely COVID-19 will spread to others. Also, the more people an individual interacts with, and the longer each interaction lasts, the higher the risk of viral spread. Location can be a factor, too, with outdoor activities generally being less risky than indoor activities. Mask wearing, social distancing, and good hand washing are all mitigation strategies.

Contact tracing involves notifying contacts of confirmed cases to whom they may have been exposed. Contact tracing includes asking very detailed questions to assess activities leading to potential exposure. In addition, contact tracing includes guidance on isolation or quarantine, monitoring for signs and symptoms, and arranging testing when it is appropriate. 

In the case of clinical and lab settings, PPE often mitigates the risk of proximity and length of exposure. In these cases, the contact tracing team will ask very detailed questions about these interactions to ensure the appropriate risk is assigned. These risk levels vary as public health guidance changes. 

Working collaboratively with contact tracers is critical to the success of limiting the spread of infection. 

A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.

Quarantine and isolation are public health measures used to reduce or prevent the spread of illness.

Quarantine refers to separating a healthy person or group of healthy people away from others due to their exposure to a contagious disease such as COVID-19. Quarantine includes the advice to stay home, increase cleaning of common areas (e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, shared living spaces), physically distancing from others, and wearing your mask at all times unless alone in your bedroom. 

Isolation refers to separating the individual with a contagious disease such as COVID-19 away from others. Do not travel, go to class, work, or participate in any social activities. Limit the sharing of bathrooms and common areas (e.g. kitchens, living rooms) with others, and stay in your room alone as much as possible.  People in isolation should order food in or ask a friend to drop off groceries. Wear a mask anytime you are outside of your bedroom. Do not host friends or small gatherings. Do not attend small gatherings.

Screening refers to a test or procedure that looks for diseases before people have symptoms. In the context of COVID-19, screening University students, faculty, postdocs, and staff allows for early identification of COVID-19, even in persons without symptoms, and allows for those individuals to be isolated to prevent spread of the disease.

Screening test at the University is no longer a requirement, as of August 1, 2022.

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

•    Fever or chills
•    Cough
•    Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
•    Fatigue
•    Muscle or body aches
•    Headache
•    New loss of taste or smell
•    Sore throat
•    Congestion or runny nose
•    Nausea or vomiting
•    Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as it learns more about COVID-19.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, a very accurate type of viral test. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs are often used to collect samples for PCR tests. Anterior nares—lower nostril, less-invasive—nasal swabs, and saliva, are also used for sample collection. 

This refers to testing of someone who has been in close contact (i.e., within 6 feet, of a person with a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection for at least 15 minutes) and does not have symptoms.

Screening tests are intended to identify infected individuals without symptoms who may be contagious so that measures can be taken to prevent further transmission. Individuals who are eligible for screening will be instructed to enroll and participate in regular screening testing. They will be informed of their results in a timely manner so they can protect themselves and others if their test result is positive for COVID-19.

Screening testing is just one tool in the University’s public-health toolbox to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus and the surrounding communities. Screening testing is performed on a regular basis on asymptomatic individuals with no known exposure to COVID-19, and is intended to identify and monitor COVID-19 positivity rates among the University community. 
 
Screening testing is only beneficial if individuals are tested on a regular, ongoing basis to assess positivity rates in a population. Screening testing is not a service to be used for personal and/or travel testing-related documentation.

Screening test at the University is no longer a requirement, as of August 1, 2022.

Symptomatic testing is conducted for individuals showing symptoms of COVID-19.