Pre-reading questions:
- Do you follow social-distancing?
- Do you follow the news around the world on social media?
Vocabulary:
- last /lahst/
- national /NASH-uhnl/
- program /PROH-gram/
- often /AW-fuhn/
- staff /stahf/
[adjective] – the most recent or the one before the present one
I joined the summer camp last March 16.
[adjective] – relating to all parts of a nation or to a nation as a whole rather than to any part of it
The national health service hotline is not working.
[noun] – a plan of activities to be done or things to be achieved
The E2E program would generate a lot of new jobs.
[adverb] – a lot or many times
The doctor is often more to be feared than the disease.
[noun] – the group of people who work for an organization
All the hospital staff were wonderfully supportive.
An antibody that can identify and neutralize the coronavirus has been discovered by researchers. The approval of an antigen was announced last May 12 by the health minister, Kasunobu Kato. People who will have the antigen test will be covered by the national health insurance program. The antigen can detect the presence of a protein and is often used to detect influenza. If an individual tested negative in the antigen test, they will need to take the PCR test to confirm if they are infected. Health care professionals and other staff at medical facilities and its confirmed infected patients from the care facilities for the elderly will also be tested with the antigen to avoid the spread of infection.
True or False:
- The antigen was discovered by the health minister, Kasunobu Kato.
- The approval of the antigen was announced last May 12.
- The individual who will be tested positive in the antigen test will need to take the PRC test to make sure if they are infected.
- The antigen detects the presence of a protein that is often used to detect influenza.
- To prevent the spread of the virus, the medical staff and confirmed patients will be tested with the antigen, too.
Vocabulary Check:
Complete the sentences by using the words in the box.
| last | national | program | often | staff |
- December 25 is a ______ holiday.
- All the hospital ______ were called for a meeting.
- Mother’s Day was celebrated ______ May 10.
- Valentine’s Day is ______ dedicated to women.
- I watched a ______ about health care.