75 Words/Phrases in the New Lexicon of the Pandemic

About seven-in-ten U.S. Adults say they need to take breaks from COVID-19 news. But that doesn’t mean they are avoiding the topic completely. In fact, 44% of U.S. adults say they are discussing the coronavirus outbreak with other people most or almost all of the time, whether online, in person or over the phone,” according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted April 20 to 26. The outbreak has had far-reaching effects on daily life in the United States, so it may not come as a surprise that it is such a frequent subject of discussion for many Americans.

And since it is a frequent subject of discussion, an entire plethora of new words/phrases, but more likely existing words/phrases having new meanings (or increased usage) have surfaced in just a few short months. Americans’ discussions with one another now regularly include many of the following acronyms, words and phrases, all within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Using television network and local news, and Facebook posts as reference, SJ Insights (unscientifically) compiled these words and phrases (related to the pandemic) of those mentioned most frequently.  We tried to group them in clusters relating to an overall topic or theme, knowing some fall in more than one group.

The point of this exercise is to just look at the sheer number of words that have surfaced having a whole new meaning. These are by no means all inclusive, (and do not include brand names, global terms, etc.) so if you have one or more you’d like to add, post it in the comments below).

1. Pandemic (The broad term to describe the outbreak.)
   
   General/Miscellaneous:
2. Coronavirus
3. Novel Virus
4. COVID-19
5. Cases
6. Deaths
7. Hot Spots
8. Testing/Tests
9. Vaccine
10. Ventilators
11. PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)
12. Flatten the Curve
13. Frequent Hand Washing
14. Symptomatic/Asymptomatic
15. Social Distance/Social Distancing/Practice Social Distancing
16. Six (6) Feet
17. Masks
18. Wearing Masks/Not Wearing Masks
19. Mitigation/Mitigate
20. Temperature Checks
21. Underlying Conditions
22. Hydroxychloroquine
23. Contact Tracing
    
    Shutdown Related:
24. Quarantine
25. Self-Quarantine
26. Shutdown
27. Stranded at Sea (Cruise Workers & Goers unable to leave the ship due to COVID-19)
28. First Responders
29. Frontline Workers
30. Healthcare Workers
31. Essential Workers
32. Non-Essential Workers
33. WFH/Work from Home
34. Home School
35. Nursing Homes
36. Zoom
37. New Normal
38. Back to Normal
    
    Financial/Business Related:
39. Response
40. Economy
41. C.A.R.E.S. Act
42. Stimulus Check/Payment
43. Unemployed
44. Self Employed
45. EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loans)
46. UI (Unemployment Insurance)
47. PPP (Paycheck Protection Program)
48. PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) – a broad program that expands unemployment benefits to self-employed/contractors, etc.
49. PEUC (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation) – extension of benefits, up to 13 weeks for those who have exhausted state unemployment benefits
50. FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) – the additional $600 from the Federal Government
51. Out of Business
52. Bankruptcy
53. Recovery
54. Pivot
55. Business Model
    
    Food/Shopping/Restaurant Related:
56. Stockpiling
57. Toilet Paper
58. Yeast
59. Hand Sanitizer
60. Thermometers
61. Disinfectants
62. Wipes
63. Supply Chain
64. Comfort Food
65. Home Delivery
66. Purchase Restrictions
67. Home-Confined Buying
68. Online Grocery Shopping
69. Contactless Delivery
70. Curbside Pickup
71. Dine In
72. Carry Out
73. Reduced Menu
74. Curbside Cocktails
75. Pandemic-15 (like “the freshmen 15″— meaning the pounds you’ll gain during quarantine)