‘Lockdown’ declared Collins Dictionary word of the year

“Lockdown” has been declared the word of the year for 2020 by Collins Dictionary, after a sharp rise in its usage during the pandemic.

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Key-Points

 It has defined lockdown as “a security measure in which those inside a building or area are required to remain confined in it for a time” and “the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interaction, and access to public spaces”.

While the word gained traction with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has certainly not been the first instance that the world has faced a lockdown.

The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11 set into motion global restrictions on movement, congregations and travel.

China, where the SARS-CoV2 virus first made its appearance, was the first country to enforce lockdown and quarantine measures as early as January.