VOA常速：世卫组织认为新冠肺炎情况会变得越来越糟

燕山大学 刘立军 供稿

【TRANSCRIPT】

As coronavirus infections surpassed 13 million globally, with more than half a million deaths, the World Health Organization is sounding a new alarm. 

“Let me be blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction.”The head of the world body insist, “without mandating basic outbreak control methods, such as physical distancing, wearing masks or staying home, and sick. There's only one way for this pandemic to go. It's going to get worse and worse. ”His remarks come as WHO reported yet another worldwide record of more than 230,000 new cases in 24 hours on Sunday.10 countries accounted for 80% of that total. More than half of the new confirmed cases came from the United States and Brazil. 

“Countries are losing gains meant, as proven measures to reduce risk are not implemented or followed. We are seeing this across the Americas, South Asia and several countries in Africa.” South Africa accounts for most of the confirmed cases in Africa, with nearly 300,000 cases, including more than 4000 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Amid a surge in hospitalizations, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation Sunday. “We are now recording well over 12,000 new cases every day, that is the equivalent of 500 new infections every hour of the day.”He reinstated a series of measures, including banning liquor sales to minimize hospitalization, due to alcohol related injuries and ordering a nighttime curfew. The South African president also made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks when in public. 

In the US, several states are rolling back reopening plans. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars and indoor restaurant dining to shut down statewide, and also ordered churches, gyms and hair salons to close in the hardest hit counties. “We're continuing to see hospitalizations rise in the state, we're continuing to see a modest increase in ICUS and number of beds represented by ICU patients for the state of California and we continue to experience an increase in the rate of positivity here in the state of California.”

A nail salon owner says, the new order will not only affect him but so many others. “If we don't make money to pay the rent, the landlord shop will shut too. So everybody has a problem, yeah. And also we don't have an income and then the family, our family has the problem too.”

Something the WHO had touched on this week. “We need to reach a sustainable situation where we have adequate control of this virus without shutting down our lives entirely. Or lurching from lockdown to lockdown, which has a hugely detrimental impact on societies.” And the measures put in place in country by country so far have had varying degrees of success or failure. 

Mary Ann Machado, VOA News, Washington.

【VOCABULARY】

1. surpass v. (formal) to do or be better than sb./sth. 超过；胜过；优于。例如：He hopes one day to 

surpass the world record. 他希望有一天能刷新世界纪录。

2. blunt adj. (of a person or remark 人或说话) very direct; saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite 直率的；直言的。例如：To be blunt, your work is appalling. 坦率地说，你的活干得糟透了。

3. mandate v. (especially North American English) to order sb. to behave, do sth. or vote in a particular way 强制执行；委托办理。例如：The law mandates that imported goods be identified as such. 法律规定进口货物必须如实标明。

4. detrimental adj. 有害的；不利的。例如：The policy will be detrimental to the peace process.

这项政策将不利于和平进程。

【QUESTIONS】

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. Without mandating basic outbreak control methods, this pandemic is going to get worse and worse. 

2. More than half of the new confirmed cases came from the United States and India. 

3. South Africa accounts for most of the confirmed cases in Africa, with nearly 300,000 cases, including more than 4000 deaths.

4. The South Korea president also made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks when in public. 

5. In the US, several states are rolling back reopening plans. 

6. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars and indoor restaurant dining to shut down statewide, and also ordered churches, gyms and hair salons to close in all counties. 

7. We need to reach a sustainable situation where we have adequate control of this virus without shutting down our lives entirely. 

【KEY】

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

(T) 1. Without mandating basic outbreak control methods, this pandemic is going to get worse and worse. 

(F) 2. More than half of the new confirmed cases came from the United States and India.（正确表达） More than half of the new confirmed cases came from the United States and Brazil. 

(T) 3. South Africa accounts for most of the confirmed cases in Africa, with nearly 300,000 cases, including more than 4000 deaths.

(F) 4. The South Korea president also made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks when in public.（正确表达） The South African president also made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks when in public. 

(T) 5. In the US, several states are rolling back reopening plans. 

(F) 6. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars and indoor restaurant dining to shut down statewide, and also ordered churches, gyms and hair salons to close in all counties. （正确表达）In California, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars and indoor restaurant dining to shut down statewide, and also ordered churches, gyms and hair salons to close in the hardest hit counties. 

(T) 7. We need to reach a sustainable situation where we have adequate control of this virus without shutting down our lives entirely.