The Hindu Editorial (Warning bells) – Dec 23, 2021

India has reported over 200 cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant and given that there were no cases when the month began, this has put the Centre in a high state of alert. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Warning bells) – Dec 23, 2021.

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The Hindu Editorial (Warning bells) – Dec 23, 2021:

warning bell (noun) – a bell that warns people of danger; a feeling that something bad will happen.
Omicron variant (noun) – On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the (new coronavirus) variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). The first known confirmed Omicron infection was from a specimen collected on November 9. In recent weeks, infections in South Africa have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection.
variant (noun) – different or form or version or mutant of something (virus).
vaccine (noun) – a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease.
infectious (adjective) – spreading, contagious, communicable, transmittable.
given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
unmistakable (adjective) – definite, obvious, evident, well defined.
foreboding (noun) – fearful apprehension, anxiety/worry; uneasiness, suspicion.
writ large (phrase) – very clear, more obvious.
delta variant/B.1.617.2 (noun) – Formally known as AY.2 or B.1.617.2, it’s a variant of the coronavirus, first identified in India, is renamed as the ‘Delta variant’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) and this variant is reclassified as Variant of Concern (VOC). The B.1.617.1 strain has been reclassified to a Variant of Interest (VOI) and labelled variant “Kappa”.
foresight (noun) – forethought, anticipation, planning, precaution, readiness, preparedness, circumspection.
dynamic (adjective) – modern, advanced, forward-looking, forward-thinking, innovative.
prompt (adjective) – quick, swift, rapid, speedy, immediate, instant.
containment (noun) – limitation, restraining, restriction, restraint.
underline (verb) – emphasize, underscore, highlight.
vigilant (adjective) – watchful, careful, alert.
positivity rate (noun) – the proportion of positives to total tests done for disease; the percentage of tests that are turning out to be positive for disease; the rate at which people getting tested for disease receive positive results.
echo (noun) – recollection, remembrance, reminder, indication, suggestion, hint, intimation.
lockdown (noun) – an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving from a place; An extended state of confinement/encirclement/isolation of a person by the authority.
exhort (verb) – urge, encourage, call on, enjoin.
impose (verb) – force, thrust, inflict, urge (an unwelcome decision).
curfew (noun) – a rule which is instructing people to stay at home, typically at night.
regulate (verb) – control, oversee, govern, monitor something (by using rules and regulations).
curtail (verb) – decrease, lessen, reduce, restrict, limit.
funeral (noun) – the ceremony held when the body of someone who has died is buried or cremated.
pre-emptive (adjective) – preventive, precautionary, protective.
ebb (verb) – diminish, decrease, lessen, decline, fade away, wane, dwindle, disappear.
vaccinate (verb) – inoculate, administer, introduce (with a vaccine to provide immunity against a disease).
dose (noun) – an amount/quantity of something (a medicine/drug) prescribed to be taken at a specific time.
devastating (adjective) – destructive, ruinous, disastrous, catastrophic.
strike (verb) – hit, inflict (a blow); affect, afflict.
body blow (noun) – problem, difficulty, issue, hitch, complication, upset, disappointment, misfortune, mishap.
consternation (noun) – a sudden and unexpected feeling of worry/anxiety that causes confusion; dismay, disquiet, surprise, shock.
harbinger (noun) – sign, indicator, indication, signal.
havoc (noun) – destruction, damage, disaster.
passport (noun) – path, way, route, doorway, entry.
pandemic (noun) – the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area.
overwhelmingly (adverb) – with a great majority; to a very great degree.
in spite of (phrase) – despite, notwithstanding, regardless of.
mRNA vaccine (noun) – The vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, which stands for “messenger ribonucleic acid”. Messenger RNA is essentially the blueprint that living cells use to turn gene sequences into the proteins that form their fundamental structures. Once injected, the mRNA in the vaccine is translated into a viral protein, which our immune systems detect. The body generates an immune response in reaction to these viral proteins, which can’t by themselves cause disease, and this provides protection against developing Covid-19.
regulator (noun) – The process of testing, developing and marketing of medicines has to regulated by regulator to protect the interests of the public. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is India’s national regulatory body. Major regulatory bodies include the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the US and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Europe.
clear (verb) – give approval to, authorize, give permission, permit, allow.
booster dose (noun) – In medical terms, a booster dose is an extra administration of a vaccine after an earlier dose.
trigger (verb) – cause, produce, bring about, prompt.
shortfall (noun) – deficit, inadequacy, deficiency.
vulnerable (adjective) – endangered, unsafe, unprotected, unguarded, ill-protected; easily affected by, prone to, at risk of.
pre-pandemic (noun) – before the pandemic.
campaign (noun) – canvassing, electioneering, an act of soliciting (asking for/requesting) votes; an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making progress within a specific group.
gong (noun) – alarm.
facilitate (verb) – make easy, enable, assist, clear the way for.