Coronavirus Vocabulary, Pronunciation & Practice

Vocabulary with pronunciation audios relating to coronavirus Covid-19. The aim is to help you develop your English language on an issue that is affecting all our lives at the present moment. These keywords will help you communicate and understand official information more easily. The audios will help you with pronunciation as some of the words are not easy to say correctly. This page is for non-native English speakers.

Vocabulary Practice: After all the words lists below, you will find an exercise to test your understanding of the vocabulary. Let me know if you want more practice lessons for this vocab.

High Level Coronavirus Vocabulary & Pronunciation

The list of words below are either high level words or words that are difficult to pronounce. Read the list and definitions first. After that, listen to the audio to learn the pronunciation.

A-N Word List

  1. acute respiratory problems
    1. acute – quickly becomes severe
    2. respiratory problems = breathing difficulties
  2. alcohol based antimicrobial hand sanitiser
    1. antimicrobial = kills bacteria and microorganisms.
    2. hand sanitiser = a hygienic cleaner for the hands
  3. altruism (n) / altruistic (adj)
    1. selfless concern for the welfare of others – without agenda.
  4. asthma
    1. a respiratory condition due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
    2. (pron – silent “th”)
  5. contact tracing
    1. tracking who might have had contact with an infected person.
  6. contagious
    1. spread of a disease through direct or indirect contact with other people.
    2. this can also be used in reference to emotions: “The feeling was contagious as the excitement spread.”
  7. to contain an outbreak
    1. to control the spread of an illness
  8. to contaminate
    1. to infect
  9. curfew
    1.  a specific time when people must stay indoors
  10. epicentre
    1. this word usually relates to earthquakes – the point on the surface which is the focus of the earthquake.
    2. in terms of Covid-19, it is being used to describe the area where the virus is most active.
  11. fomite / fomites
    1. an object or objects that becomes contaminated with infected organisms
    2. such objects can transmit illness from one person to another
    3. examples of such surfaces: kitchen surfaces, toys, bathroom surfaces, mobile phones etc
    4. To practise good hygiene relating to the coronavirus, we must disinfect surfaces, including our smart phones, regularly. Soft surfaces, such as children’s toys, can be washed.
    5. (pron = fomites has more than one type of pronunciation)
  12. herd immunity
    1.  when a significant proportion of the population are immune to a disease either through a vaccine or by having naturally built up immunity by having had the disease and recovered from it.
  13. incubation period
    1. the time between exposure to an illness and when the symptoms start to become apparent. 
  14. misinformation
    1. false or inaccurate information 
    2. this is a common problem online
    3. always take your advice about Covid-19 from official sources
    4. this is also the case with IELTS – misinformation online confuses people about the test
  15. a new strain
    1. new strain = a genetic variant or subtype
    2. in this case, Covid-19 is a new strain of coronavirus
    3. it is sometimes referred to the novel coronavirus (new coronavirus not previously known)

Audio A-N Word List

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Download Word List: Coronavirus Vocabulary Download

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P-Z Word List Coronavirus 

  1. pandemic
    1. a global outbreak of a disease
  2. patient zero
    1. the first person to contract the disease (relating to outbreaks)
  3. persistent cough
    1. persistent = doesn’t go away / continuing
    2. (pron cough = kof)
  4. pneumonia
    1. a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. See this page for details: NHS UK Pneumonia and WHO Pneumonia
    2. severe cases of coronavirus Covid-19 can develop pneumonia
    3. (pron = silent “p” at the beginning of the word)
  5. precautionary measures
    1. steps taken in order to be safe
  6. to ramp up
    1.  increase
    2. this is usually used in spoken English rather than formal writing
  7. respiratory droplets
    1.  small drops when someone exhales
    2. one way the novel coronavirus is spread is by droplets from an infected person breathing, coughing or sneezing being inhaled by someone else in close proximity
  8. respiratory problems
    1.  breathing problems
  9. quarantine
    1. a time when someone who has been potentially exposed to an illness is put in isolation away from others to prevent the spread of a disease
  10. a state of emergency
    1. a time of danger when the government introduces temporary rules to deal with a situation
  11. stockpiling
    1. collecting large amounts of an item or items for future use, often in an emergency
    2. at present some people are stockpiling food in panic which is causing a shortage of some items
  12. stringent
    1.  strict
    2. stringent measures 
  13. super-spreader
    1.  a person who transmits infections more than other people do
  14. surface transmission
    1. when an disease or bacteria is spread through contact with contaminated surfaces
    2. see “fomite”
  15. transmission rate
    1.  the speed at which a disease is spread 
    2. this can also be used in reference to data
  16. vaccine
    1. a substance that stimulates the production of antibodies in a person to give them immunity from a disease
  17. ventilators
    1. a machine that provides artificial respiration for a person
    2. at present governments around the world are urging for an increased production of ventilators to help support those patients who are severely affected with Covid-19 and who have acute respiratory problems
  18. vigorous action
    1. strong action
  19. vulnerable person
    1. vulnerable = easily physically hurt
    2. this can also apply to those who are at risk emotionally or mentally as well
    3. relating to Covid-19, it means people with certain medical conditions or of a particular age who are more likely to have severe symptoms or die when infected
    4. the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) have a list on this page: CDC at risk groups  relating to the coronavirus
    5. when the government asks people to stay at home, it is not only to protect themselves but also to protect the vulnerable who are more at risk of this illness 
  20. wheezing
    1.  making a rough noise when breathing due to breathing difficulties
    2. (pron = the “h” is silent)
  21. zoonotic
    1.  relating to a disease that is transmitted between animal and people

Audio P-Z Word List

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More Useful Vocabulary

The words below are more commonly known which is why I have not put a definition with them. If you are in doubt, check in your dictionary. I have put an audio with these words so that you can check if you are pronouncing them correctly.

  1. acceleration phase
  2. anxiety
  3. to catch a disease
  4. community spread
  5. death toll
  6. to disinfect
  7. face mask
  8. to be hospitalised
  9. large gatherings
  10. lockdown
  11. physical distancing
  12. precautions
  13. protective clothing
  14. to self-isolate
  15. severity
  16. social distancing
  17. symptoms
  18. utmost (adj & noun)

Audio for Above List

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Download Word List: Coronavirus Vocabulary Download pdf

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Vocabulary Practice

Complete the sentences below using a word or words from the list above. If the gap requires a verb, you might need to alter the verb form to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct on completion.

  1. In some countries, governments advise that the entire family should (a)……………. if just one member experiences symptoms such as a (b)……………….. cough, (c) ………………problems or a fever.
  2. Avoiding large gatherings and practising social (a)…………………….. can help reduce the (b)…………………. rate of the virus.
  3. When you seek information regarding Covid-19, always go to official sources and be careful of ………………. spread online.
  4. Many countries are ……………………. their efforts to try to contain the spread of this virus.
  5. As yet, there is still not enough known about the ………………………….. of the virus and precisely how long it survives on cardboard or plastic.
  6. People with pre-existing medical conditions that affect their breathing, such as ………….., should take extra precautionary measures.
  7. Covid-19 was declared a ……………..  by the WHO on March 11th 2020.
  8. In the current situation, we are likely to see good examples of ……………. behaviour as neighbour helps neighbour.
  9. Most governments around the world are doing their ………….. to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Download Word List: Coronavirus Vocabulary Download pdf

ANSWERS

The answers are not available for this lesson.

CLICK HERE: ANSWERS TO CORONAVIRUS VOCABULARY EXERCISE

From Liz

———————————

Suspended IELTS Tests

Use the following link to check if your test has been suspended and find information on dates when the tests are likely to continue in your area. Click here: Suspended Test Updates

Free Vocabulary & Listening Practice

Get free topic based vocabulary on this page: Vocabulary Main Page.

Get free listening practice on this page: IELTS Listening Main Page

All the best and stay safe!

Liz

Comments

  1. Sonal C says

    Hi Liz,
    Greetings to you and Thanks a ton for such useful study material.
    It would be great f you also post some basic differences which students might expect in examination as these are now conducted by IDP, earlier it was British Council(this is specific to India and I am not sure how it is for other countries).
    This will be helpful for me as I have already appeared for IELTS twice by British Council but I got 6.5 in Writing both the times and I need the score of 7 in it.
    And now I am reappearing on 25th Sep but this time its IDP so I am little bit nervous about it.
    Any tips and tricks would be really appreciable.

    Regards,
    Sonal

    • The exam is 100% the same in both centers. The tests are written by Cambridge, not by BC or IDP. For this reason, all IELTS tests are the same. Some centers might differ from each other in terms of facilities such as using head phones or loud speakers for the listening test, but that’s all. Good luck with your next test 🙂

  2. Kevin Thurber says

    What use is this if I can’t copy things?

    • I am presuming you are a teacher as your email points to this. This website is to offer IELTS candidates free access to hundreds of pages of lessons, tips, model answers, vocabulary etc, all accessed online. It is not for teachers to copy and use in the classroom. So, if you want to help your students, point them towards my site and they can learn in their leisure time for free. Do you really think education that is streamed online is useless? Really?

  3. wahid Arif says

    Thank you so much dear LIZ,

  4. Pelin Yucel says

    Hi Liz,
    As you uploaded a lesson including Corona vocabulary, do you think it is possible that questions about covid-19 might come in IELTS?
    In speaking or in writing?

    • The topic of health is a very common topic. The questions might not be specifically about the Coronavirus, but you can use this as an example.

  5. Navpreet Kaur says

    1. contact tracing, persistent,respiratory
    2. distancing,transmission
    3. Misinformation
    4. ramping up
    5. severity
    6. asthma
    7. pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9 . vigorous action

  6. Ibrahim says

    I want to thank you for everything, you are the best ILETS connoisseur.

  7. Pema Dorji says

    Thank you Liz for spending your valuable time for people who are going to wire ielts as soon as COVIDE -19 stops
    Its really helpful for your information which is provided here
    Amazing vocabularies
    Am always going through your notes 📝

    • Liz says

      I’m glad it’s all useful 🙂 Hopefully the Covid-19 situation will become more under control soon. Also I hope IELTS finds new ways for people to sit the test in affected countries.

  8. Apoorva says

    Hi liz, lots of respect for you for your effort in making ielts aspirants dream come true, I am new to ielts and have very less knowledge about it. I am from india and want to study abroad for my masters. So, I would like to take ielts academic test. I request you to show me a path through which I can score good in ielts academic exam. Since, everybody in India is home quarantined, I feel this is the perfect time for my preparation. Eagerly waiting for your reply……….
    Please ignore if any grammatical errors!!!

  9. Toka mohamed gaber says

    1-a)contact tracing b) persistent c) respiratory problems
    2-a)distancing b) transmission
    3-misinformations
    4-ramping up
    5-strain
    6-vulnerable
    7-pandemic
    8-hospitality
    9-precautionarymeasures

  10. 1(a)be self- isolated
    1(b)presistent
    1(c) respiratory
    2(a)distancing
    2(b)transmission
    3 misinformation
    4 lockdown
    5 a new strein
    6 acute respiratory problems
    7 patient zero
    8 altruistic
    9 state of emergency

  11. Farooq says

    Respect Teacher LiZ, I really appreciate your efforts and a very recently one of my teacher recommend you for IELTS, when I visit your page I found a lots of stuff for ILETS, by the way I really appreciate your efforts.
    All Best wishes

  12. Mohamed Kamal says

    Thank you so much Liz for your sincere efforts.

  13. Jayanath says

    Thanks a lot.
    Triple gem bless you.

  14. 1.go on isolation,severe, respiration
    2. Distancing, ramping up
    3. Misinformation
    4.Lockdown
    5.acceleration phase
    6.pneumonia
    7.pandemic diseases
    8.altruist
    9.precautionary measures

  15. 1. a. quarantine b. persistent c. respiratory
    2. a. distancing b. transmission
    3. misinformation
    4. stringent in
    5. surface transmission
    6. pneumonia
    7. pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9. utmost

    • Mohammad Rafie says

      (1) a- quarantine
      b- persistent
      c- respiratory
      (2) a- distancing
      b- transmission
      3- misinformation
      4- ramping up
      5- incubation period
      6- asthma
      7- pandemic
      8- community spread
      9- vigorous action

  16. khadeejah says

    1. quarantine, pneumonia, respiratory
    2. distancing, transmission
    3. misinformation
    4. stringent in
    5. severity
    6. asthma
    7. pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9. utmost

  17. Abdelhamid Ismail says

    Thank you so much for such an effort.

  18. Roland says

    1 a. quarantine
    b. persistent
    c. respiratory
    2 a. distancing
    b. transmision
    3. false information
    4. ramping up
    5. severity
    6. asthma
    7. pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9. utmost

  19. Mireille says

    1- Quarantine – persistent – acute respiratory
    2- distancing – transmission
    3- misinformation
    3- ramping up
    4- transmission rate
    5- pneumonia
    6- pandemic
    7- altruism
    8- utmost

  20. Farjana says

    Dear Mam,
    I belong to Bangladesh. In the following 4th April, I have been registered for IELTS exam with the British Council. Due to the corona virus outbreaking, every kind of exam has been postponed and it has been said to avoid any type of gathering in the outside. I tried to contact the British Council office in Bangladesh. But it would not be possible to contact them. Thanks in advance.

    With regards,
    Farjana.

    • I would guess that all communication will be slow at present as organisation and companies scramble to adjust and get policies sorted. Go the official page for IELTS Coronavirus (just google it) and you’ll find a list of test centres with estimated dates etc. Also send your test centre an email, they will reply in time – just be patient. This situation was unexpected.

      • Farjana says

        Thanks a lot, mam. All scheduled IELTS exam in Bangladesh has been postponed until 14th April. It has been noticed in the British Council web page of Bangladesh.

        • Mohammad Rafie says

          (1) a- quarantine
          b- persistent
          c- respiratory
          (2) a- distancing
          b- transmission
          3- misinformation
          4- ramping up
          5- incubation period
          6- asthma
          7- pandemic
          8- community spread
          9- vigorous action

  21. Matches my answers 95%

  22. Shalini Jithesh says

    Thank you dear Liz.
    Hope you and your loved ones are staying safe. Prayers for all of us to survive this crises🙏

    • Fingers crossed for everyone at this time. This situation will pass. Use this time to think of your future. Make plans, start preparing. Keep learning and developing. Stay safe!!

  23. Saeed says

    Thanks Liz… Very helpful vocabulary.

  24. 1.a.quarantine
    b.persistent
    C.respiratory
    2.a.distance
    b.increase
    3.misinformation
    4.ramp up
    5.vaccine
    6.asthma
    7.pandemic
    8.altruistic
    9.utmost

  25. 1. Quarantine – persistent-respiratory
    2. distancing – transmission
    3. misinformation
    4. ramping up
    5. surface transmission
    6. asthma
    7. pandemic
    8. altruism
    9. utmost

  26. MAHDI HAMADI WADI says

    1-lockdown /-persistent /-acute respiratory
    2-distancing/ -transmission
    3-misinformative
    4-vigorously making
    5- new strain
    6-asthma
    7- pandemic
    8-altruistic
    9-utmost

  27. 1. a. Quarantine.
    1.b. Persistent.
    1.c. Respiratory problems.
    2.a. Distancing.
    2.b. Transmission.
    3. Misinformation.
    4. Ramping up.
    5. Incubation period.
    6. Asthma.
    7. Pandemic disease.
    8. Altruistic.
    9. Utmost.

  28. Thanks so much for this! This page is really helping me!

  29. Lahiru says

    1. a. quarantine
    b. persistent
    c. respiratory
    2. a. distancing
    b. transmission
    3. misinformation
    4. ramping up
    5. severity
    6. asthma
    7. pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9. utmost

  30. 1 a . quarantine
    b. Persistent
    c.respiratory
    2 a. Distancing
    b.transmission
    3.misinformation
    4.ramping up
    5.new strain
    6.asthma and pneumonia
    7.pandemic disease
    8.altrustic
    9.utmost

  31. Thank you Liz, very helpful and organized as usual. You help a lot.

  32. Brenda Ayebale says

    1-quarantine,persistent, respiratory
    2-isolation, transmission rate
    3-misinformation
    4-ramping up
    5-acceleration phase
    6-pneumonia
    7-pandemic
    8-altruistic
    9-stringent measures

  33. 1a. Quarantine
    1b.persistent
    1c.respiratory
    2a.distancing
    2b.transmission
    3.Misinformation
    4.Ramping up
    5.New strain
    6.Vulnerable person
    7.Pandemic
    8.Altruistic
    9.utmost

  34. PHILIP SAKALA.K says

    1.(a) LOCKDOWN (b) PERSISTENT (c) BREATHING .
    2. (a) DISTANCING (b) TRANSMISSION
    3. MISINFORMATION
    4. UTMOST
    5. FOMITE
    6. SYMPTOMS
    7. NEW STRAIN
    8. ULTRUISM
    9. SEVERITY

  35. 1. a. quarantine
    b. persistent
    c. breathing
    2. a. distancing
    b. transmission
    3. misinformation
    4. ramping up
    5. new strain
    6. respiratory problems
    7. pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9. stringent measures

  36. Sarah says

    1.a quarantine
    b. persistent
    c. respiratory
    2. distancing
    3. misinformation
    4. lockdown
    5. ventilator
    6. asthma
    7.pandemic
    8.community spread
    9.vaccine

    • 1.a) Quarantine
      b) Persistent
      c) Breathing

      2.a) Distancing
      b) Transmission

      3. Misinformation
      4. Ramping up
      5. Transmission rate
      6. Asthma
      7. Pandemic
      8. Altruism
      9. Utmost

  37. cathline juvanse says

    1.
    a. Quarantine
    b. Persistent
    c. Respiratory
    2.
    a. Distancing
    b. Transmission
    3. Misinformation
    4. Ramping up
    5.Incubation period
    6. Asthma
    7. Pandemic
    8. Altruistic
    9. Utmost

  38. Ike Chinyere Grace says

    1. a. Self isolate
    b. Persistent
    c. Breathing
    2. a. Distancing
    b. Transmission
    3. Misinformation
    4. Ramping up
    5. New strain
    6. Asthma/pneumonia
    7. Pandemic
    8. Altruistic
    9. Utmost

  39. Beautiful and correct explantion in depth on par with official sources

  40. 1(a). Quarantine
    (b). Persistent
    (c). Respiratory
    2(a). social distancing
    (b). transmission rate
    3. misinformation
    4. Ramping up
    5. Symptoms
    6. Asthma
    7. Pandemic
    8. Community spread
    9. Utmost

  41. Stella says

    1 a. Self isolate
    1 b. Persistent
    1 c. Respiratory
    2 a. Distancing
    2 b. Transmission
    3. Misinformation
    4. Contact tracing
    5. New strain
    6. Asthma
    7. Pandemic
    8. Altruistic
    9. Utmost

  42. 1(a)Quarantine
    (b)Persistent
    (c)Respiratory
    2.(a)Distancing
    (b)Transmission
    3.CDC
    4.Ramping up
    5.Vaccine
    6.Wheezing
    7.Pandemic
    8.Altruistic
    9.Utmost

  43. manpreet says

    1. a- be quarantined
    b- dry
    c- respiratory
    2- distancing; transmission
    3- misinformation
    4- ramping up
    5- strain
    6- Asthma
    7- pandemic
    8- altruistic
    9- utmost

  44. 1.(a) Quarantine
    (b)Persistent
    (c)Respiratory
    2.(a)Distancing
    (b)Transmission
    3. CDC
    4.Ramping up
    5.Vaccine
    6.Wheezing
    7.Pandemic
    8.Altruistic
    9.Utmost

  45. Eshita says

    1 a quarantined b persistent c respiratory
    2 a distancing b transmission
    3 misinformation
    4 ramping up
    5 vaccine
    6 asthma
    7 pandemic
    8 altruism
    9 precautions

  46. Favorite says

    1.
    a. self isolate
    b. persistent
    c. respiratory
    2.
    a. distancing
    b. transmission

    3. misinformation

    4. ramping up

    5. vaccine

    6. asthma/pneumonia

    7. pandemic

    8. altruistic

    9. utmost

    • Anyanwu Augustine says

      1_a,qurrantine
      B_persistant cough
      C_ Risperatory problem
      2a social distancing
      B_ Transmission
      3_ misinformation
      4_ Ramping
      5_ strain
      6_ Hypertension
      7_pandermic
      8_Altruistic
      9_ utmost

  47. Juan Alcantara Rodriguez says

    Hear frm Madrid. Self-isolated.
    Your work is very valuable and I appreciate a lot. Many thanks.
    Let’s go:
    1.-a. isolated (self-isolated)
    b. persistent
    c. acute respiratory problems
    2.-a. social distancy
    b.- transmission rate
    3.- misinformation
    4.- ramping up
    5.- symptoms
    6.- asthma
    7.- Pandemic
    8.- altruistic
    9.- utmost

  48. Aaron says

    1(a) self-isolate
    (b) persistent
    (c) Breathing

    2 (a) Distancing
    (b) Transmission

    3. Misinformation
    4. Ramping up
    5. Surface transmission
    6. Asthma
    7. Pandemic
    8. Altruistic
    9. Best

  49. Brenda says

    1. Be Isolated
    b.persistent
    c.respiratory
    2a. Gathering
    b. Spreading
    3.inaccurate information
    4. Putting vigorously
    5. Transmission rate
    6. Asthma
    7.pandenmic
    8. Altruistic
    9. Utmost best

  50. ashkan amini says

    Hey Liz, do you provide any actual IELTS class in London? Thank you

    • All my lessons are online. There are hundreds of free lessons on this site and I also have Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons as mentioned on the page above.

  51. Hellos ,from Azerbaijan. Thanks a lot, most of these vocabulary are frequently used ,once I came across some of them on news websites.You made our preparation easy .God bless you from coronavirus!

  52. 1. a) use face mask b) dry c) respiratory
    2. a) distancing b) transmission rate
    3. misled
    4. ramping up
    5. severity
    6. respiratory problems
    7.pandemic
    8. altruism
    9. best

  53. Ronnie says

    1. a. quarantine b. persistent c. respiratory
    2. a. distancing b. transmission
    3. misinformation
    4. ramping up
    5. incubation period
    6. asthma
    7. pandemic
    8. altruism
    9. precautionary measures

  54. Fatima says

    thank you for sharing useful study materials.

  55. Sanghamitra says

    Dear Liz,

    Thank you so much for all the support you provided through your website. It helped me a lot, to prepare and get a band 8! Your website content is just fantastic and was my primary preparation material.

    You are just awesome!

    • That’s a great result – very well done 🙂 Glad my website lessons helped 🙂

  56. 1 (a) self-isolate
    1 (b) respiratory droplets
    1 (c) respiratory

    2(a) physical distancing
    (b) contaminate

    3 misinformation
    4 lockdown
    5 incubation period
    6 asthma
    7 pandemic
    8 altruistic
    9 quarantine

  57. Thank you very much for your information about this pandemic vocabulary, this really reflects your utmost respect and appreciation for your students and followers.

  58. Meenu Ganotra says

    1.a. to self isolate
    b.dry
    C. respiratory
    2. a… distancing
    b… High
    3……misleading
    4……doing
    5…….research
    6…….lungs
    7……..threat
    8… .. ..human
    9……….best

  59. Nasibah says

    1. a) self-isolate
    b) persistent
    c) acute respiratory

    2. a) distancing
    b) transmission

    3. misinformation
    4. ramping up
    5. surface transmission
    6. asthma
    7.pandemic
    8. altruistic
    9. utmost

  60. Atikur Rahman says

    I am very pleased to get such as post.I think which will help me many more.Thanks you.

  61. Sherif says

    1- quarantine – persistent – breathing
    2- social distancing and transmission rate
    3-misinformation
    4- exerting. not quite certain
    5-vaccine
    6-respiratory problems
    7- pandemic
    8- altruistic
    9-precautionary measures

  62. 1a) self isolate (b) severe (c) breathing
    2. distancing
    3. transmission
    4. misinformation
    5.ramping up
    6. pneumonia
    7. pandemic
    8. altruism
    9.utmost

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