One_year_on_Covid.pdf
one_year_on_covid.mp3
BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
Covid: One year on
This is not a word-for-word transcript
Neil
Hello This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English I’m Neil
Georgina
And I’m Georgina
Neil
In this programme we’re talking about something the whole world knows about –
coronavirus
Georgina
Sadly, Covid-19 has been responsible for more than two million deaths globally
Neil
What’s believed to have started in the city of Wuhan in China went on to become
a pandemic – a disease that affects many people around the world
Georgina
Unsurprisingly, we’ve discussed this a lot on 6 Minute English but over a year on
since the first outbreak, it’s good to take stock – or look back over the situation
and see what we have learnt - and find out how our knowledge has changed
Neil
Before we do that, Georgina, let’s test your knowledge with a question In
1918/1919 another major virus known as Spanish flu, swept across the world Do
you know approximately, how many people were infected by it? Was it…
a) 5 million
b) 50 million, or
c) 500 million?
Georgina
Well, I know it was bad, so I’m going for the awful number of 500 million
Neil
OK, I’ll reveal the right answer later on Now, back to the current coronavirus
pandemic It was only at the end of December 2019 when reports of a new flu[1]like infection first came out of China Within weeks, millions of people were in
lockdown as the virus took hold around the world
Georgina
Took hold means it became stronger and was difficult to stop We all had to
change the way we lived to stop it spreading But while we played our part by
washing our hands, wearing masks and staying at home, some people were busy
working for a solution to fight this deadly virus
Neil
You’re talking about the scientists, Georgina Their response was immediate and
it’s something the BBC World Service programme Science in Action has been
reflecting on
Georgina
At the beginning of the outbreak, Jenny Rohn, a virologist from University
College London, spoke to the programme about her concerns if the virus turned
out to be like flu Here’s what she said…
Jenny Rohn, virologist, University College London
Seasonal flu is a huge killer and you’ve probably seen the numbers, it makes the
Wuhan virus look a bit wimpy, that’s simply because of the sheer number of
people that flu infects every year And if the Wuhan virus started spreading like
that and going all over the world, you would see a lot of people dead This is why
people are worried
Neil
So we know flu is a virus that can spread easily and can affect many many people
This is why, at the time, comparing it with the new coronavirus made Covid look
‘wimpy’ – that’s a word to describe something or someone that’s feeble - not
very strong
Georgina
Yes, Jenny called the great or significant numbers of people affected by flu as
sheer numbers The fear at the time was if coronavirus spread like flu, it would
kill many people
Neil
Well, we all know what happened next – it did spread But, working behind the
scenes, scientists developed tests we could use to see if we were infected
Georgina
But the main challenge was to develop a vaccine that could stop us becoming
infected altogether This involved people around the world working together to
share information
Neil
This work started straight away and Dr Peter Dazak, Zoologist and President of
EcoHealth Alliance, told the Science in Action programme that this initial
response in China helped with the development of a vaccine…
Dr Peter Dazak, Zoologist and President of EcoHealth Alliance
Despite what everyone says, you know, they had a system to find unusual
pneumonia cases We now think that that system kicked in, maybe not on the
first actual case of Covid, but certainly within a couple of months of the first
case, it seems So that’s quite quick And then from that point, to actually getting
a full genome, genetic sequence of the virus, was very quick – and getting that
published and publically available – and then rapidly developing diagnostic tests
and vaccines now – that’s really worked well
Neil
So China had a scientific system which kicked in – or started happening – quite
quickly Within a few months of the first coronavirus outbreak, experts began to
work out the full genome of the virus – that’s the full amount of genetic
information of something
Georgina
This genetic information was made publically available and helped towards the
development of various vaccines that we see now – which is hopefully our way
out of this pandemic
Neil
Let’s hope so, Georgina The science is amazing and is explained in more detail in
the BBC’s Science in Action programme But now let’s get back to our quiz
question Earlier I asked you how many people were infected by Spanish flu back
in 1918/1919?
Georgina
I guessed 500 million Was I right?
Neil
You were, Georgina An incredible 500 million people around the world were
infected by the Spanish flu virus and over 50 million people died worldwide
Georgina
Well, the death toll from coronavirus hasn’t been that bad, but is still a
significant number
Neil
OK, well we’ve just time to recap some of the vocabulary we’ve discussed today
Starting with pandemic – a disease that affects many people around the world
Georgina
When something took hold, it means it became stronger and was difficult to
stop
Neil
The word wimpy describes something or someone that’s feeble or not very
strong
Georgina
Something that is sheer is great or significant – so sheer numbers means a great
amount of something
Neil
When something kicks in it starts to happen
Georgina
And a genome is the full amount of genetic information of something
Neil
Well, we’re out of time but there’s lots more 6 Minute English programmes to
enjoy on our website at bbclearningenglishcom
Georgina
And if you like topical discussions and want to learn how to use the vocabulary
found in headlines, why not try out our News Review podcast? You’ll find
programmes specifically about Covid-19 and lots of other interesting topics
Remember we also have an app that you can download for free from the app
stores And of course, we are on most social media platforms
Neil
Thanks for listening and goodbye
Georgina
Goodbye
VOCABULARY
pandemic
disease that affects many people around the world
take hold
become stronger and is difficult to stop
wimpy
feeble or not very strong
sheer
great or significant
kicks in
starts to happen
genome
the full amount of genetic information of something
