S01 - E05 - Coronavirus part 1 - Gabriel Vieira Marcque

Today, I speak with Gabriel who is a medical student currently helping in the fight against coronavirus. In this episode, we answer some of your most common questions about the virus and in the end, cover some essential coronavirus vocabulary.

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S01 - E05 - Coronavirus part 1 - Gabriel Vieira Marcque

Full intermediate level ESL podcast transcript

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lovetolearnenglish)

Rich: Hey, Gabriel how are you? 

Gabriel: I'm fine. Thanks, Richard. How are you? 

Rich: Very goods, very good. Uh, so it looks like the world has changed quite a bit since the last time we spoke.

Gabriel: Yes for all of us. Yes. 

Rich: For all of us. Yes. So, the Coronavirus or COVID-19 has pretty much dominated the news and everybody's life for the last few weeks. Really.

Gabriel: Mhmm…

Rich: Let's begin with a very simple question, and I would just like to ask, what is COVID-19 or what is Coronavirus? 

Gabriel: Um, so COVID-19 which is another name for the popularly known Coronavirus at the moment is a new illness that was spread in December 2019. And it is a virus that affects the lungs and airways, so it has few symptoms, but those symptoms are also common to many other viruses as well. So, it's quite difficult to know if you have the virus or not. 

Rich: Yes. And just to confirm as well, the 19 part refers to 2019 is that correct? 

Gabriel: Yes, correct. 

Rich: Okay. So, you're actually involved in the fight against Coronavirus, you're involved in combating the virus, combating being another word for fighting. 

Gabriel: Mhmm. 

Rich: So, what is it that you are doing personally to help combat this virus?

Gabriel: Okay. Um, so other than by being precautious like any other human being should be doing at the moment by self-quarantined and staying at home as much as we can. I'm also part of a project in a phone line in the state where I live in Brazil. So, basically, the government released together with a few institutions here from the state, a phone line for people to call.

And we as students and doctors, we do a triage of these people to help them to decide whether they should leave their homes. So, the safety of their own homes to go to a health service or not. 

Rich: Excellent. I just want to correct you here, Gabriel, on the pronunciation of one word. So the correct pronunciation here would be quarantine. So it's with a tine.

Gabriel: Quarantine...

Rich: Quarantine rather than quarantine. It's a very common mistake. Actually. I've heard many students get the pronunciation of this wrong in the last few weeks, so please don't feel that you...that you're making a big mistake here cause it's common. You did mention one very interesting word though, which I believe is a French word, which was triage. Now I know that you're in the medical profession, so triage is a word that you guys use a lot, but could you please inform our listeners what triage means? 

Gabriel: Yes sure. Um, so basically triage is the system we do...um...we put in action in those situations. For example...like in COVID-19...for us to decide whether the patient needs to be assessed or not. So, in this case by the phone call...um...I receive the phone call and a patient tells me what symptoms they have been feeling. And um, with those symptoms in mind, I help them to decide whether they should leave their home or stay at home. 

Rich: Gabriel, I really just want to thank you for your service. I'm sure everyone in Brazil would like to thank you for your service too. Everybody in the health sector at the moment in my opinion is like a little superhero because even though the rest of us, while we are doing our parts - staying at home on the sofa and watching Netflix. I think it really is impressive and something that should be celebrated that you guys are making such an effort to help fight this. You guys really are the superheroes of this century. I think. 

Gabriel: Well, thank you very much. I actually think all of them that are in the front line attending (to) the patients themselves, because at the moment I'm still at home…

Rich: Yeah… 

Gabriel: but for those* who are in the hospital in locum*, it's actually really brave. 

NOTE - A locum, or locum tenens, is a person who temporarily fulfills the duties of another; the term is especially used for a physician or clergyman.

Rich: It's very brave. Yes. But I mean, you're still playing your part, Gabriel, so I think it's, you know, I'm sure the people of Brazil will have to buy you a beer or something when this is…

Gabriel: (Laughs)

Rich: ...when this is all over. I would really love to cover some of the most common questions that people have about this virus. 

Gabriel: Okay...

Rich: The first question that I've had people ask me is, what are the most common symptoms.

Gabriel: The most common symptoms are dry cough...um...tiredness and fever. But there are many other symptoms to be added to this list. But let's keep it tight. 

Rich: Yes. So just to go over some of that vocabulary as well. A symptom is something that you show, like a sign of it, right? So, it's the effect that it has on your body. A fever is when your body is hot. Correct. 

Gabriel: Um, yes. So, just to make a quick amendment to that, uh, a symptom is what you are feeling. 

Rich: What you are feeling, okay? 

Gabriel: ...what you are feeling. A sign is what you're showing. So, a doctor can see a sign, but he can't see or feel a feeling for you. A feeling is what you express.

Rich: I knew it was a good idea to get a medical student here. 

(Both laugh)

Rich: Students please… a dry cough? 

Gabriel: A dry cough is a sign. Um, tiredness is mostly a symptom and a fever is a sign as well. 

Rich: Perfect. Yeah. I have no idea about this type of stuff. So students, whatever I've said to you in the last few weeks, do not listen to me. Give Gabriel a call. Okay. The next question here is, how far should you stay from someone who is sick? 

Gabriel: So, there is a social distancing we should follow at least one to two meters. It depends ON which guidelines you are following, but basically, let's keep it two meters. From a good social distance from others. 

Rich: Yeah. So, social distancing is the term people are using at the moment to refer to just staying far away from other people. 

Gabriel: Mhmm

Rich: So, basically so you can avoid people coughing on you and getting...yeah *droplets, I think they call it. So, a droplet is a small piece of water on you, which is how the virus is generally transmitted. Personally, I'm staying with two meters. I don't like to live life on the edge. Two meters is good...I think for me. 

NOTE - Droplets:  a very small drop of a liquid.

Gabriel: It's always good to play on the safe side.  That’s a good message.

NOTE -  the correct expression here should be “to be on the safe side”. 

Rich: Oh yes certainly.. Are hand dryers effective in killing the virus? 

Gabriel: So, no unfortunately they're not effective. Hand dryers, they should be used after you wash your hands with soap and water or...um...you can use actually after washing your hands with soap and water, you can dry with a paper towel for example. The warmth of the hair dryer...the hand dryer sorry...is not killing any virus. 

Rich: It does not kill any virus. Okay, that's good to know. Make sure you wash your hands, then basically because it's not enough to just use the hand dryer.  Another very common question I've been getting recently is, are antibiotics effective in treating the virus? 

Gabriel: That is another, no. The antibiotics are a group of medicines aimed at the structure of bacteria, and so as we're talking here about the virus, the antibiotics are not effective at all in the situation. 

Rich: Okay. Yeah. That's not a good thing I guess. But, uh...I'm sure there will be a...a vaccine soon that we can all look forward to at some point. 

Gabriel: Yeah. Or other medicines. 

Rich: Yeah or other medicines. Yeah. People have also been asking me if there are some home-based remedies they can try too. For example, many people have been sharing on the internet that it's a good idea to start eating lots of garlic. Is it true that you can eat garlic and avoid Coronavirus. 

Gabriel: (Laughs) and yet another thing sorry...No. 

Rich: Why are you laughing?

Gabriel: Another negative.

Rich: There are no stupid questions. Only stupid answers. 

Gabriel: Now I'm laughing because I'm thinking about people eating garlic and smelling a lot. But, that is not necessary. That's a negative answer as well. It is normal that in crisis time, people may have many beliefs and try to solve an issue, which is the virus at the moment with common knowledge and knowledge they have. Uh, from there...uh own experience. So, garlic has many antimicrobial properties. It is not scientifically proven that it is effective in any treatment for the Coronavirus disease. 

Rich: Okay. Good to know. So, one final question and then we're going to move to some vocabulary to finish the episode today. I would also like to know if cold weather and snow can kill the virus. 

Gabriel: Nope, nor cold weather nor hot weather. So, the Coronavirus can spray in any condition so far under study. But, um, something important to be said is that...uh..the temperature of our bodies they remain around 36.5 and 37 degrees. So, no matter what the temperature outside is, the virus can enter our body...um...which has a temperature also always...uh...around 36 to 37 degrees. 

Rich: Okay. Sounds like a nice day in Brazil actually...

Gabriel: At the moment. Yes. 

Rich: Perfect. So let's just talk about a few vocabulary items to finish today. We're only gonna do three vocabulary items to finish. The first one I would like to discuss is index case….index case. Now, this is a word that is being used a lot at the moment. What is an index case? 

Gabriel: Okay, so an index case is the first documented case of an infectious disease like it is Coronavirus or even a genetically transmitted condition, or even a mutation as well in a population, in a region or in a family for example. In our case, in a population. 

TIP - Infectious: (of a disease or disease-causing organism) liable to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc. through the environment.

Rich: What is an index patient? 

Gabriel: An index patient goes with an index case and index patient is the first individual which is affected with the first known case of the disease. 

Rich: Sorry, the first known case.

Gabriel: Hmmhm

Rich: The first known case. Okay. And finally, then patient zero. Patient zero. 

Gabriel: So, um, patient zero is the first person identified within...uh...within a disease...um...to be infected with a disease in an outbreak. So, in the situation of the Coronavirus the first individual to be identified with Coronavirus in Wuhan. 

Rich: In Wuhan Yes. Wuhan, the city in China where the outbreak originally happened. 

Gabriel: Hmhmmm 

Rich: I would also like, just to quickly review the word outbreak too. So what does outbreak mean? Any ideas..

Gabriel: An outbreak? As far as I know, it's the beginning of a non-expected situation. 

Rich: Yeah..

Gabriel: Like a disease spread. 

Rich: Yes, it can be a disease, but it can also be some other things too.

Gabriel: Hmmhmm.. 

Rich: Perfect. So, I think that's everything for today. Once again though, thanks for all your efforts in helping to combat or fight the Coronavirus. You guys really are superheroes. So keep fighting the good fight. And. I'll see you soon. Gabriel. 

Gabriel: Thank you very much, and I hope everyone stays at home and see you soon. 

Rich: Thank you. Cheers. Thank you all so much for listening to another episode of the podcast. I really am grateful that you guys are continuing to listen. I know that the times right now are very difficult with the Coronavirus, so I just want to say that I hope all your listeners are at home and safe and sound, so take care. Follow the guidelines and see you soon.

If you notice any errors, or would like me to add something to the transcription please email me on info@lovetolearnenglish.com