双语阅读 | 疫情防控期间的世界百态

叶心怡 供稿

The COVID-19 disease is rapidly spreading worldwide, and the number of cases is rising around the globe with increasing pace in affected areas, forcing countries to practice lockdown.

新冠疫情席卷全球，感染人数迅速增长，使得各国不得不实行封锁政策，以减少病毒的传播。

Some people are finding every chance to sneak out and have social life as usual, since the pandemic doesn't seem to be a big deal to them.

疫情期间，有些人不以为然，仍然寻找一切机会遛出家门，如往常一般进行社交。

In Italy, one of the key affected countries, there have been videos that filmed mayors raging at lockdown breakers, who grabbed every chance to wander the streets, buy tobacco, have haircuts, and throw parties. In one of the videos, the mayor himself went patrolling the streets of the city, hunting down stragglers who ignored instructions to stay at home.

意大利是疫情最为严重的国家之一。此前网上出现了多个意大利市长怒怼市民的视频，因为封闭期间很多市民在街上游荡、买烟、理发、甚至开派对。其中一个视频里，市长还亲自上街巡逻，将街上的市民赶回家。

In UK, a couple said that they captured their neighbour dressing as a bush to break out of his home amid lockdown conditions.

在英国，有一对夫妇称在封闭期间他们看到邻居假扮成灌木溜出门去。

In Spain, many have been trying to use pet-walking as an excuse for leaving their houses, as the government said pet-owners could take animals outside for walks. Some started dog rental businesses for others to take walks without getting fined. There was even a man caught trying to trick officers using a stuffed toy dog.

西班牙政府准许人们出门遛狗，因此遛狗成了不少西班牙人溜出家门的借口。有些人趁机办起了“不交罚款，轻松出门”的宠物狗出租业务。更有甚者牵着玩具狗假装遛狗而被警方识破。

On the contrary, there are people engaged in meaningful deeds, helping and encouraging those in need.

另一方面，也有许多人致力于传递正能量，帮助和鼓励患难中的人们。

Some quarantined Italians sang from their balconies to lift the spirits of those around them.

一些意大利人在自家阳台上唱歌，以此为附近的邻居们打气。

One McDonald's franchisee in Florida is serving free meals to hospital employees, who are working long and difficult shifts, to express gratitude to all the men and women who dedicate their lives to serve those affected by this global pandemic.

美国佛罗里达州一家麦当劳向医疗工作者提供免费食物，以感谢他们不畏艰险、不辞辛劳地救治病患。

One of the largest French luxury conglomerates, LVMH, has set out to produce free hydroalcoholic gels for health authorities, in order to deal with shortage of hand sanitizers.

法国奢侈品巨头路易威登集团决定生产消毒剂并免费提供给医疗机构，以帮助应对新冠疫情造成的消毒剂短缺。

Two of the leading supermarket brands in Australia have launched a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and differently-abled to fend for necessities.

澳大利亚两大连锁超市则为老年和残障人士划分了专用购物时段，以方便他们疫情期间购买生活必须品。

Vocabulary

lockdown - n. 活动限制，封锁

straggler - n. 掉队的人，离群的人

quarantine - v. 隔离、检疫

franchisee - n. 加盟店

conglomerate - n. 企业集团

hydroalcoholic gel - n. 水醇凝胶