CDC发布最新冠状病毒防控指南

CDC releases new coronavirus prevention and control guidance

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

Washing hands, yes. Disinfecting everything, not so much. That's the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when it comes to the prevention of spreading coronavirus.

Last year, the CDC wrote by using disinfectants we can further lower the risk of spreading COVID-19. The government medical agency listed bleach mixed with water as making yourself disinfectant. Now, it's guidance on that has changed. For one thing, the CDC says disinfecting surfaces is usually not necessary unless someone who's sick has been in the home within 24 hours.

It's also telling people to be more careful with disinfectants. Last year more calls related to these chemicals were made to poison control centers than there were in 2019 and 2018. The organization says bleach is toxic. It reminds people never to mix it with ammonia and it says it should never be used on food.

It also says household cleaners need to be kept off our skin and out of our bodies. Officials say the risk of catching coronavirus off the surfaces we touch is a low especially if surfaces are outside. The main way the disease spreads is when you're nearby someone who has it, particularly if they're spreading droplets by coughing or sneezing. Should we stop cleaning surfaces all together? No.

Research shows that in a household where someone has COVID-19, transmission rates are lower when common surfaces are regularly cleaned. The CDC says doing that with soap or detergent is good enough and that doorknobs and light switches are good spots to focus on. What about alternative cleaning methods like LED blue lights and ultrasonic waves?

Officials say they don't know yet how effective these methods are. We've talked about how some U.S. colleges are considering COVID vaccine requirements for students though they can apply for exemptions for religious or medical reasons. Experts say it's not clear if universities can legally require the shot and some like Harvard strongly recommends it but don't require it.

VOCABULARY

1. disinfect v. to clean sth. using a substance that kills bacteria 给……消毒。例如：to disinfect a

surface/room/wound给表面 / 房间 / 伤口消毒

2. disinfectant n. 消毒剂，杀菌剂

3. bleach n. 漂白剂

4. toxic adj. 有毒的

5. ammonia n. 氨；氨水

6. household n. all the people living together in a house 一家人；家庭；同住一所房子的人。例如：Most households now own at least one car. 大多数家庭现在至少有一辆汽车。

7. household cleaner家用清洁剂

8. droplet n. a small drop of a liquid 小滴

9. exemption n. official permission not to do sth. or pay sth. that you would normally have to do or pay 免除；豁免。例如：She was given exemption from the final examination. 她已获准期末免试。

QUESTIONS

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

1. The CDC says disinfecting surfaces is usually necessary if someone who's sick has been in the home within 24 hours.

2. The CDC says bleach is toxic.

3. The government reminds people never to mix bleach with ammonia.

4. The CDC says bleach should never be used on clothes.

5. The CDC says household cleaners need to be kept off our skin.

6. Research shows that in a household where someone has COVID-19, transmission rates are higher when common surfaces are regularly cleaned.

7. Harvard university strongly recommends and requires COVID vaccine requirements for students.

KEY

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

(T) 1. The CDC says disinfecting surfaces is usually necessary if someone who's sick has been in the home within 24 hours.

(T) 2. The CDC says bleach is toxic.

(F) 3. The government reminds people never to mix bleach with ammonia. （正确表达）The CDC reminds people never to mix bleach with ammonia.

(F) 4. The CDC says bleach should never be used on clothes. （正确表达） The CDC says bleach should never be used on food.

(T) 5. The CDC says household cleaners need to be kept off our skin.

(F) 6. Research shows that in a household where someone has COVID-19, transmission rates are higher when common surfaces are regularly cleaned. （正确表达） Research shows that in a household where someone has COVID-19, transmission rates are lower when common surfaces are regularly cleaned.

(F) 7. Harvard university strongly recommends and requires COVID vaccine requirements for students. （正确表达） Harvard university strongly recommends COVID vaccine requirements for students but don't require it.

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