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Coronavirus: A Global Emergency?

The document discusses the Coronavirus outbreak and whether it poses a true global threat. It provides some key facts about the virus: it was first detected in Wuhan, China and has since spread to 50 countries. While similar to the flu, Covid-19 is more dangerous, with over 82,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths reported so far. Reactions vary globally, from US President Trump saying the risk is low, to the UK Prime Minister planning for all scenarios as cases rise. Many countries are taking measures to slow the spread, like quarantines and event cancellations.

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Francesco Cuoghi
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72 views

Coronavirus: A Global Emergency?

The document discusses the Coronavirus outbreak and whether it poses a true global threat. It provides some key facts about the virus: it was first detected in Wuhan, China and has since spread to 50 countries. While similar to the flu, Covid-19 is more dangerous, with over 82,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths reported so far. Reactions vary globally, from US President Trump saying the risk is low, to the UK Prime Minister planning for all scenarios as cases rise. Many countries are taking measures to slow the spread, like quarantines and event cancellations.

Uploaded by

Francesco Cuoghi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOME > PLANET ENGLISH > CORONAVIRUS: A GLOBAL EMERGENCY?

Speciale Coronavirus

Coronavirus: a global
emergency?
Level B1
1 Marzo 2020
It’s all over the news: the Coronavirus epidemic is spreading. Is it
a true, global threat, or are we all overreacting? First some facts.
The Coronavirus was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China, a few months ago. Since
then it has spread to fifty countries. The Coronavirus produces a disease called Covid-19,
which is very similar to the ordinary flu, with symptoms such as fever, coughing and
sneezing. Although the flu can also be deadly, Covid-19 is more dangerous. So far some
82,000 people have caught it, and nearly 3,000 died. It must be noted that most of its victims
were people already in poor health. In other words, a healthy person who contracts the virus
will most likely recover from it. Indeed, some 80% of infected people report mild or no
symptoms at all.

Reactions around the world


One of the problems of the Coronavirus is that, like the viruses that cause the flu, it can
spread quickly, through the air, person to person. Sometimes it’s hard to detect, just
because its effects are so similar to those of the flu. The ways to deal with this epidemic vary
around the world. Public statements go from that of US president Donald Trump who claimed
that the danger to Americans “remains very low,” to Australian prime minister Scott Morrison
who said that the risk of a pandemic was “very much upon us.” In the UK, Prime Minister
Boris Johnson said that the government is planning for “all eventualities” if the number of
Coronavirus cases rise. For sure, many countries are taking measures against the spread of
the virus, such as quarantining people from affected areas, cancelling public events or
shutting down schools.

What needs to be done


These measures cannot stop the virus, but they are useful in slowing the contagion. This is
very important because it allows the health care systems to deal with this emergency. There
are not enough hospitals if too many people get sick at the same time. Correct information is
also very important. For example, the UK is launching a mass public information campaign.
Informing the public with solid science and good advice is a way to prevent mass panic and
irrational behaviour. It is a problem, for example, if people hoard goods, medicines and
surgical masks. It is more helpful, as the World Health Organization recommends, to
take simple precautions [https ://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/25/how-to-protect-yours elf-from-
coronavirus ] to reduce exposure and transmission such as avoiding touching your eyes, nose
and mouth and washing your hands regularly.

Side effects
What cannot be overlooked about the Coronavirus outbreak are its side effects. What seems
to be spreading faster than the virus is the fear of it. Some countries have stopped traveling
to and trading with China and other countries affected by the virus. As a consequence, many
businesses that rely on tourism or international trade are in trouble. Some analysts warn that
the Coronavirus could trigger a new financial crisis
[https ://www.theguardian.com/bus ines s /2020/feb/27/coronavirus -could-trigger-damage-on-s cale-of-2008-
financial-cris is -covid-19].
This irrational fear is also producing another, deadly virus: racism. In
many places around the world Chinese people are accused of spreading the disease. There
are also many reported cases of discrimination towards infected individuals. Finally, it should
be noted that the Coronavirus is distracting people from other far more deadly problems,
such as pollution, climate change and international conflicts. It’s time to face the Coronavirus
epidemic with rationality and the right perspective.

Useful links

1) How can you protect yourself from the Coronavirus? Here is some advice from the
World Health Organization:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
[https ://www.who.int/emergencies /dis eas es /novel-coronavirus -2019]

2) Here is some more advice from the British government:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
[https ://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus -covid-19-information-for-the-public]

3) Facts or fiction? Find out the myths about the virus you shouldn’t believe:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/2019-
novel-coronavirus-myth-versus-fact [https ://www.hopkins medicine.org/health/conditions -and-
dis eas es /coronavirus /2019-novel-coronavirus -myth-vers us -fact]

4) This map keeps track of the spread of the Coronavirus:


https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd
[https ://experience.arcgis .com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd]

COMPREHENSION

1) Read the article and complete the sentences with the right alternative.

1. The Coronavirus

a. first appeared in China.


b. was created in Wuhan.
c. produces the flu.

2. Covid-19 is

a. not as dangerous as the flu.


b. caused by sneezing and coughing.
c. very similar to the flu.

3. The Coronavirus can be very dangerous

a. for people who are already weak and sick.


b. for healthy people.
c. for 80% of infected individuals.

4. The Coronavirus

a. spreads slowly.
b. is very contagious.
c. is caused by Covid-19.

5. President Trump was

a. very worried about the Coronavirus.


b. more optimistic than prime minister Morrison.
c. more pessimistic than prime minister Morrison.

6. Many countries are taking measures

a. to stop the virus.


b. to build more hospitals.
c. to slow down the spread of the virus.

7. The UK government is inviting people to

a. hoard medicines and surgical masks.


b. act rationally.
c. listen to the World Health Organization.

8. The fear of the Coronavirus is having a negative impact on

a. international relations.
b. the World Health Organization.
c. China alone.

9. The Coronavirus epidemic is dangerous also because


a. it’s making many people fearful, irrational and racist.
b. it has produced a new financial crisis.
c. many people are cancelling their trips to China.

10. Problems such as pollution and climate change

a. produce fewer casualties than the Coronavirus.


b. are far less important than the Coronavirus epidemic.
c. are more dangerous than the Coronavirus.

VOCABULARY
2) Complete the sentences with the following words. Put the verbs and
nouns in the right
form, if necessary.

outbreak * to overreact * to recover * pandemic * epidemic * to quarantine * to hoard *


side
effect * to deal with * deadly

1. An _________ happens when a disease spreads quickly and unexpectedly within a


certain
population.
2. The sudden spread of a disease can also be called an _________.
3. A _________, instead, is when a new disease spreads quickly all over the world.
4. A lot of people _________ medicines: they are buying lots of them and hiding them away.
5. There are many diseases that are more _________ than the Coronavirus.
6. An undesirable secondary effect of a medicine, or of an action, is called a _________.
7. People infected with the Coronavirus are _________, which means that they are isolated
from the rest of the population.
8. I can’t _________ all these negative news, they’re making me really anxious.
9. Please look at the facts. You have to act rationally, not _________.
10. I no longer have the flu and I feel great – I have _________ completely.

GRAMMAR – Making questions

3) Look at the answers below. Write the right question for every answer.

1. _________________________________________________________________
No, the Corona virus is more dangerous that the flu.

2. _________________________________________________________________
So far 82,000 people have caught the Coronavirus.

3. _________________________________________________________________
The percentage of infected people who report mild or no symptoms at all is 80%.

4. _________________________________________________________________
Yes, president Donald Trump said that the danger to Americans remains very low.

5. _________________________________________________________________
British prime minister Johnson said that the government is planning for “all eventualities.”

6. _________________________________________________________________
According to the World Health Organization, people should take precautions such as
washing hands
regularly.

7. _________________________________________________________________
Yes, the government shut down the schools to slow down the spreading of the disease.

8. _________________________________________________________________
Some of the side effects of the Coronavirus epidemic are irrational fear and racism.

9. _________________________________________________________________
Tourism in China and other countries is in trouble because many tourists no longer want
to spend
their holidays there.

10. _________________________________________________________________
Yes, we can stop talking about the Coronavirus.

SHORT ESSAY

4) What’s your opinion on the Coronavirus? Is it a true, global threat, or are


we all overreacting? Write a text on the topic (60-80 words) or discuss with
your classmates.

5) Do you think there are other problems around you more dangerous than
the Coronavirus? Describe in a text (60-80 words) or discuss with your
classmates.

___
(Carlo Dellonte)

(Image credits: Pixabay [https ://pixabay.com/it/photos /epidemic-wuhan-s -virus -quarantine-4888794/] ,


Pixabay [https ://pixabay.com/it/illus trations /virus -coronavirus -corona-virus -blu-4835301/] )

Per scaricare le soluzioni clicca qui. [https://aulalingue.scuola.zanichelli.it/xstudx-


login-filedownload.php]

TAG Boris Johnson, coronavirus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, flu, Goal 3 - Good
Health and Well-Being, Goal 4 - Quality Education, Obiettivo 3 – Salute e
benessere, Obiettivo 4 – Istruzione di qualità, World Health Organization

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