Omicron coronavirus variant spreading worldwide

 

Omicron coronavirus variant spreading worldwide   

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdtCJAKwtyE

A new variant of the covid-19 virus is beginning to spread worldwide. The WHO named the mutation Omicron, after a letter of the Greek alphabet. It was first reported in Botswana on the 9th of November. Two weeks later, it was detected in South Africa and flagged as a "virus of concern". Soon after this, cases were reported in Hong Kong, Israel, Madagascar and Belgium. Epidemiologists have warned that this new strain could be extremely infectious. They also said it may be able to evade protections afforded us by current vaccines. This has led to countries reinstating travel bans. Despite these, new cases have already been reported in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Scientists are currently analyzing Omicron to assess the dangers it might pose. They have detected 50 genetic changes in the DNA that affects the spikes surrounding the crown of the virus. Current vaccines focus on these spikes. Any changes in the DNA of the spikes could make the virus more virulent, more transmissible and possibly more resistant against vaccines. Scientists say it could take a few weeks to determine how effective our vaccines are against Omicron. The White House's chief medical adviser has warned that: "When you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility, and you're already having travel-related cases…it almost invariably is ultimately going to go all over [the world]."


3. DISAPPEAR: Students A strongly believe covid-19 will disappear in a year or two and we can go back to normal; Students B strongly believe this won't happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. COVID-19: How has the coronavirus affected these things? Have you been affected? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Effects

Work / Study

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Travel

 

 

Socializing

 

 

The economy

 

 

Mental health

 

 

 

5. ALPHABET: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "alphabet". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MEASURES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best measures to keep the virus at bay at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Hand washing
  • Social isolation
  • Mask wearing
  • Social distancing
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Ventilation
  • Talking quietly
  • Losing weight

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

mutation

a.

A variety of a microorganism.

      2.

detected

b.

Marked something for attention or treatment in a specified way.

      3.

flagged

c.

Discovered or identified the presence or existence of.

      4.

epidemiologist

d.

Have enough money to pay for something.

      5.

strain

e.

The action or process of changing in form or nature.

      6.

evade

f.

A person who studies or is an expert in diseases.

      7.

afford

g.

Escape or stay away from someone or something, especially by guile or trickery.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

pose

h.

Of a disease or poison that is extremely severe or harmful in its effects.

      9.

virulent

i.

Cause something to occur in a particular way or to have a particular nature.

      10.

transmissible

j.

Finally; in the end.

      11.

resistant

k.

How spreadable a virus or disease is.

      12.

determine

l.

In every case or on every occasion; always.

      13.

invariably

m.

The ability not to be affected by something, especially something bad.

      14.

ultimately

n.

Present or constitute a problem or danger.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The new Omicron variant was named by South Africa's government.     T / F
  2. The Omicron variant was first reported in Botswana on November 19.     T / F
  3. Israel, Madagascar and Belgium have reported cases of Omicron.     T / F
  4. Epidemiologists say current vaccines will protect us against Omicron.     T / F
  5. Scientists have found 50 different genetic changes in Omicron.     T / F
  6. Vaccines currently in use focus on the centre of the coronavirus crown.    T / F
  7. Scientists need over two months to know if vaccines can fight Omicron.   T / F
  8. The White House said Omicron would spread all across the world.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. variant
  2. spread
  3. flagged
  4. infectious
  5. evade
  6. pose
  7. focus
  8. virulent
  9. determine
  10. invariably
  1. deadly
  2. catching
  3. present
  4. always
  5. form
  6. find out
  7. dodge
  8. disseminate
  9. concentrate
  10. marked

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. The WHO named the
  2. flagged as a virus of
  3. this new strain could be
  4. They also said it may be able to
  5. This has led to countries reinstating
  6. assess the dangers it might
  7. They have detected 50 genetic
  8. make the virus more
  9. more resistant against
  10. showing this degree
  1. pose
  2. travel bans
  3. changes in the DNA
  4. of transmissibility
  5. extremely infectious
  6. mutation Omicron
  7. vaccines
  8. evade protections
  9. virulent
  10. concern

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

alphabet
infectious
detected
cases
reported
vaccines
variant
concern

A new (1) _____________________ of the covid-19 virus is beginning to spread worldwide. The WHO named the mutation Omicron, after a letter of the Greek (2) _____________________. It was first reported in Botswana on the 9th of November. Two weeks later, it was            (3) _____________________ in South Africa and flagged as a "virus of       (4) _____________________". Soon after this, cases were                      (5) _____________________ in Hong Kong, Israel, Madagascar and Belgium. Epidemiologists have warned that this new strain could be extremely (6) _____________________. They also said it may be able to evade protections afforded us by current                           (7) _____________________. This has led to countries reinstating travel bans. Despite these, new (8) _____________________ have already been reported in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

surrounding
determine
currently
degree
virulent
detected
ultimately
chief

Scientists are (9) _____________________ analyzing Omicron to assess the dangers it might pose. They have (10) _____________________ 50 genetic changes in the DNA that affects the spikes (11) _____________________ the crown of the virus. Current vaccines focus on these spikes. Any changes in the DNA of the spikes could make the virus more (12) _____________________, more transmissible and possibly more resistant against vaccines. Scientists say it could take a few weeks to (13) _____________________ how effective our vaccines are against Omicron. The White House's (14) _____________________ medical adviser has warned that: "When you have a virus that is showing this (15) _____________________ of transmissibility, and you're already having travel-related cases...it almost invariably is (16) _____________________ going to go all over [the world]."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who named the new variant Omicron?
  2. Where was the variant first reported?
  3. What is Omicron being flagged as?
  4. Who warned Omicron could be extremely infectious?
  5. What have many countries reinstated?
  6. How many genetic changes in Omicron have scientists discovered?
  7. What do current vaccines focus on?
  8. How long might it take scientists to find out how dangerous Omicron is?
  9. Which member of the White House staff commented on Omicron?
  10. Where did the White House staffer say Omicron might travel?

 

Role play

Role  A – Hand Washing
You think hand washing is the best way to keep covid-19 at bay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their methods. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these and why .

Role  B – Mask Wearing
You think mask wearing is the best way to keep covid-19 at bay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their methods. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these and why

Role  C – Social Distancing
You think social distancing is the best way to keep covid-19 at bay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their methods. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these and why

Role  D – Ventilation
You think ventilation is the best way to keep covid-19 at bay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their methods. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these and why

Role E – Moving to live in an isolated island

You think Moving to live in an isolated island  is the best way to keep covid-19 at bay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their methods. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these and why

Discussion - Omicron

  1. What do you know about the Omicron variant?
  2. How worried are you about covid-19?
  3. What success has your country had with covid-19?
  4. How dangerous do you think Omicron will be?
  5. What do you do stay safe during the pandemic?
  6. Do you think people will take necessary precautions against Omicron?
  7. What do you think of the covid vaccines?
  8. What advice do you have for people now Omicron is here?
  1. What dangers might Omicron pose?
  2. What happens if Omicron is very virulent and transmissible?
  3. Have you argued with anyone about covid-19?
  4. How has the current pandemic affected your life?
  5. When do you think the pandemic will be over?
  6. Do you think there should be a global travel ban?
  7. What questions would you like to ask epidemiologists?

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

A new variant of the covid-19 virus is (1) ____ to spread worldwide. The WHO named the mutation Omicron, after a (2) ____ of the Greek alphabet. It was first reported in Botswana on the 9th of November. Two weeks later, it was (3) ____ in South Africa and flagged as a "virus of concern". Soon after this, cases were reported in Hong Kong, Israel, Madagascar and Belgium. Epidemiologists have warned that this new (4) ____ could be extremely infectious. They also said it may be able to (5) ____ protections afforded us by current vaccines. This has led to countries (6) ____ travel bans. Despite these, new cases have already been reported in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Scientists are currently analyzing Omicron to assess the dangers it might (7) ____. They have detected 50 genetic changes in the DNA that affects the spikes (8) ____ the crown of the virus. Current vaccines focus on these spikes. Any changes in the DNA of the spikes could make the virus more (9) ____, more transmissible and possibly more resistant against vaccines. Scientists say it could take a few weeks to (10) ____ how effective our vaccines are against Omicron. The White House's chief medical adviser has warned that: "When you have a virus that is showing this (11) ____ of transmissibility, and you're already having travel-related cases...it almost invariably is (12) ____ going to go all over [the world]."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     beginning     (b)     began     (c)     beginnings     (d)     begins    
(a)     mark     (b)     character     (c)     letter     (d)     symbol    


(a)     defected     (b)     detected     (c)     deflated     (d)     dejected     
(a)     pressure     (b)     anxiety     (c)     stress     (d)     strain    
(a)     evade     (b)     invade     (c)     pervade     (d)     void    
(a)     warning     (b)     cautioning     (c)     banning     (d)     reinstating    
(a)     prose     (b)     pose     (c)     oppose     (d)     suppose    
(a)     fencing in     (b)     confining     (c)     besieging     (d)     surrounding    
(a)     ebullient     (b)     flatulent     (c)     virulent     (d)     corpulent    
(a)     detriment     (b)     determine     (c)     demarcate     (d)     delimit    
(a)     station     (b)     degree     (c)     status     (d)     standing    
(a)     penultimate     (b)     ultimate     (c)     ultimately     (d)     ultimatum

Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. The WHO named the mtuintoa Omicron
  2. after a letter of the Greek athbpale
  3. it was eeetdcdt in South Africa
  4. this new strain could be extremely icefuitnos
  5. it may be able to vdeae protections
  6. current ascinvce

Paragraph 2

  1. 50 teiengc changes in the DNA
  2. make the virus more vnetulri
  3. possibly more nsettsrai
  4. take a few weeks to inemtdree how effective
  5. this degree of siybtsisinramitl
  6. ealmtyiltu going to go all over the world

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