美国国家公共电台 NPR--Another COVID surge strikes but vaccines are protecting people from the worst

Another COVID surge strikes but vaccines² are protecting people from the worst

Transcript³

An even more contagious⁴ omicron subvariant is fueling yet another surge of infections in the U.S. The number of hospitalizations is growing.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

The U.S. is in the midst of yet another surge of coronavirus infections, raising concern that the number of people dying from COVID-19 will start rising again. Here's NPR health correspondent Rob Stein.

ROB STEIN, BYLINE⁵: The massive winter omicron surge receded⁶ as quickly as it hit, and the hope was the pandemic would continue fading, finally letting people live with fewer worries. But once again, the virus isn't cooperating. Eric Toner at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security says the number of people catching⁷ the virus has been rising steadily⁸ again for more than a month, and infections now appear to be accelerating.

ERIC TONER: We're seeing a new surge of cases in many parts of the U.S., particularly in the Northeast and upper Midwest. And we're beginning to see surges in the West and scattered⁹ places around the country. So I think we're into a new wave in the U.S.

STEIN: And the surge is probably already far bigger than the official numbers are saying. This time around, it's a kind of stealth surge. Because so many people are testing themselves at home or not testing at all, many cases simply aren't being counted. The good news is, so far, most people aren't getting that sick.

TONER: We see a lot of people who have what amounts to a mild cold. We see a fair number of people who have what seems like a pretty nasty case of the flu. But the number of people who are so sick that they require hospitalization is relatively¹⁰ very small compared to previous outbreaks of COVID.

STEIN: That said, so many people are catching the virus that the number of people ending up in the hospital is shooting up again too, which means the number of people dying will probably start inching up. This new surge is being driven by a confluence¹¹ of trends - an even more contagious strain of omicron, immunity¹² from vaccinations¹³ fading and so many people acting¹⁴ like the pandemic's over.

TONER: We have a more transmissible virus. We've given up on those measures that we know reduce transmission. So it's not a surprise that we are seeing increased cases. We are doing nothing at this point to stop it.

STEIN: In fact, the CDC says more than a third of Americans live in counties now considered at moderate or high risk. So federal officials are asking people to protect themselves. Here's CDC director Rochelle Walensky.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

ROCHELLE WALENSKY: We would ask people to engage in all of the activities that they want to engage in but to do so wisely, do so when you're up to date with your vaccines, when you've tested before you gather and, if you have a high risk of infection in your area, to put on that mask before you gather.

STEIN: Now, many experts think this surge is unlikely to get nearly as bad as last winter's because there's still enough immunity left from infections and vaccinations. But they're keeping a close eye on the situation and are really worried about next winter, when people will be even more vulnerable because their immunity will have faded even more. So the federal government is planning another big vaccine¹ campaign in the fall and trying to come up with new vaccines that give people stronger, hopefully longer-lasting protection. Rob Stein, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF ERIC LAU'S "STAR TREKKING")

1 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

2 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

5 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

6 receded   

v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题

参考例句：

• The floodwaters have now receded. 洪水现已消退。
• The sound of the truck receded into the distance. 卡车的声音渐渐在远处消失了。

7 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

8 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

9 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 confluence   

n.汇合，聚集

参考例句：

• They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.他们建造了城市的汇合两条河流。
• The whole DV movements actually was a confluence of several trends.整个当时的DV运动，实际上是几股潮流的同谋。

12 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

13 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。