News Mash-up: COVID-19

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Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. long-standing / ˈlɔŋˈstæn dɪŋ / (adj.) – existing for a long time
    Example:

    LTC, Inc. and Tiger Corp. have a long-standing partnership that’s lasted for 20 years.


  2. eliminate / ɪˈlɪm əˌneɪt / (v.) – to remove someone or something
    Example:

    The three players with the lowest scores were eliminated from the competition.


  3. outbreak / ˈaʊtˌbreɪk / (n.) – a sudden increase in the number of people infected by a disease or illness in a particular place
    Example:

    The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global crisis.


  4. largely / ˈlɑrdʒ li / (adv.) – to a great extent; almost completely
    Example:

    The band’s popularity is largely because of the support of their international fans.


  5. suspend / səˈspɛnd / (v.) – to cause someone/something to temporarily stop doing a certain activity because of something that went wrong or a rule that was broken
    Example:

    The train service was suspended because of an electrical problem.


Article

Read the text below.

NZ drops COVID-19 elimination strategy


New Zealand on Oct. 4 abandoned its long-standing strategy of eliminating the coronavirus amid a persistent delta outbreak, and will instead look to live with the virus and control its spread as its vaccination rate rises.


Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a cautious plan to ease lockdown restrictions in Auckland.


The Pacific nation was among a handful of countries to bring COVID-19 cases down to zero last year and largely stayed virus-free until an outbreak of the highly infectious delta variant in August. (Reuters, AP)


UK lab suspended for COVID-19 test mistakes


A COVID-19 testing laboratory in central England has been suspended over concern that it has been incorrectly giving negative PCR test results to people who are infected, the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said Oct. 15.


NHS Test and Trace launched an investigation into a lab in Wolverhampton after reports of people getting negative PCR test results after testing positive on rapid lateral flow devices.


UKHSA said that an estimated 43,000 people may have been given incorrect PCR test results. (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Instead of eliminating the virus, New Zealand is now looking to live with it and control its spread as vaccination rate rises. Do you think it’s possible to just live with the virus? Do you think that it’s a good strategy? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Ardern announced a cautious plan to ease lockdown restrictions in Auckland. How do you think the people will respond to it (ex. be a lot more careful, be less mindful of the protocols)? Would you personally prefer tighter restrictions in your area? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • A COVID-19 testing laboratory in central England has been suspended over concern that it’s been incorrectly giving negative PCR test results to people who are infected. Considering the impact of the laboratory’s error, do you think that this penalty is enough? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What would you do if you heard that something like this happened in your country/city? What do you think should be done to prevent a similar situation from happening again (ex. stricter monitoring from the government)? Why? Discuss.