Why are they call it the "novel coronavirus" and not the "new" one? What is "novel" used all the time? Does anyone know?

Just guessing. Maybe it isn't just new but displays characteristics not seen in other viruses of this type.

I think it's just the buzzword of the last couple of years. Remember when they shortened NOVACs ("NOn-Vitamin-K-antagonist AntiCoagulants") to NOACs = (Novel Oral AntiCoagulants").

Maybe. I just don't understand why every single source calls it "novel," instead of a word like "new."

Not everybody. For example your exalted leader and Fox News like to call it "the foreign virus" or "the Chinese virus".

quote:

Originally posted by BobHale:
your exalted leader and Fox News

That's a single entity, isn't it? "Covid 19" isn't as mellifluous as "new coronavirus". It should have been called something like "SARS" or "MERS," also coronaviruses, thus the "new" appelation. Say, "CURSE?"

BTW, if it had come crows, not bats, would it be called Corvid 19?*

*Corvid: Any of various medium-sized to large birds of the family Corvidae, which includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies.

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:

quote:

Originally posted by BobHale:
your exalted leader and Fox News

That's a single entity, isn't it?

I view it more as a singer and his band - like Buddy Holly and the Crickets or Diana Ross and the Supremes. (Although in the case of Donald Trump and Fox News it often seems to be a case of the tail wagging the dog as we say over here.)

Have you noticed that when you look under a dog's tail you see a Walmart logo? Truth in advertising?

Back on track, I've lately seen our plague referred to as SARS-CoV-2. I guess that's a more precise description.

I cannot believe Donald calls it the "Chinese virus." I think it is funny that China is now saying it started in the U.S.

Oh, and guess what? Just the other day, I saw it called the "new coronavirus."