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COVID-19, the potentially fatal respiratory illness first detected in December 2019, has spread across the globe with unseen speed and ferocity. It’s forced the cancellation of major events, postponed sports seasons, and sent the world into self-isolation in an attempt to curb the spread. Health authorities and governments are attempting to flatten the curve and mitigate extensive transmission in the community, while biotech firms and researchers turn their attention to the coronavirus causing the disease: SARS-CoV-2.

Since it was first discovered as the causative agent of the new disease, scientists have been racing to get a better understanding of the virus’ genetic makeup, how it infects cells and how to effectively treat it. There’s no cure, and medical specialists can only treat the symptoms of the disease. Many different treatment options have been proposed and some older drugs seem to be associated with positive outcomes — but much more work is required. However, the long-term strategy to combat COVID-19, which has spread to every continent on Earth besides Antarctica, is to develop a vaccine.

The coronavirus pandemic is putting words in the mouths of billions of people worldwide. Shelter in place, COVID-19, homemade masks, PPE, home testing kits. These terms now form a lexicon that has become part of daily conversation as the virus, which has now killed more than 29,000 people around the globe, continues to spread.

It’s an unsettling time. Educating yourself on the science and the social responses to the COVID-19 outbreak will help you understand the situation and help explain it to others.

If you know all of these key terms, congratulations on being so thoroughly informed. If not, we’ll help you brush up on the critical terms to get along in a coronavirus world. We’ll continue to update this story as our social response to the virus evolves. 

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Novel coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2

No, the virus

Meditation apps have become one of the easiest and most accessible ways to maintain a mindfulness regimen. Whether you prefer guided meditation, deep breathing exercises or calming sleep stories, mindfulness meditation can be a huge added benefit to your daily wellness
regimen.

Research suggests that the benefits of meditation can include a reduction in stress levels, depression, anxiety and insomnia. And don’t forget the physical benefits: Meditation and deep breathing can also reduce blood pressure and improve your heart rate variability, a metric that can tell you how well you handle stress. In addition, many studies show sleep meditation can calm your mind and help you get a more quality night’s sleep.

Read more: Coronavirus anxiety and fears: 5 tips from a psychotherapist on how to cope

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For many people, finding the time or energy to commit to a regular practice is difficult, and though in-person visits to a meditation studio for meditation programs are a great option for some, for others they may not be a practical approach to consistent meditation. With a little help from good meditation apps, zen could