Did Covid-19 change us forever? Five years on from the first lockdown, many believe that the pandemic has cast a long shadow over politics, economy and society.
The virus that shattered normal life
All changed, changed utterly: Emotional scenes played out across the UK yesterday as communities hosted events to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the pandemic in a day of reflection. Glossary
Spike Protein - A protruding protein on the surface of a virus.
Viral Load - The amount of virus in an infected person's blood.
Endemic - Common to a particular place or community.
Incubation - The process of maintaining conditions that support growth or development.
Epicentre - The central focus of something. In an earthquake, the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.
Conspiracy theories - Theories that explain world events by blaming shady groups of powerful people operating in secret. Some conspiracy theories have a basis in fact, but many more of them are completely invented. What is more, they often play on dangerous prejudices such as antisemitism. It's worth being especially cautious and critical when you come across accounts that ascribe enormous agency to small and secretive groups.
Amnesia - The loss of memories, including facts, information and experiences.