美国国家公共电台 NPR NFL Logo Masks But Still Not Enough PPE For Health Workers

NFL Logo Masks But Still Not Enough PPE For Health Workers

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

As I read news reports this week that health care workers in several states said they don't have enough protective gear, including face masks, an email pinged in. Put on your game face, it said. A sports merchandise site now sells face masks in the colors and logos of NFL teams. Let me just note that some masks look more appealing than others. The dancing Miami Dolphin could make you look like a bear with a fish in its mouth.

The website cautions that the team masks are, quote, "a fashion face covering not intended to be personal protective equipment." Proceeds from all sales will be donated to the CDC Foundation, supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But you might wonder, weeks and weeks into this pandemic, how can health care workers still lack enough protective masks while masks for all 32 NFL teams are being sold as fashion items? Justin Wolfers, an economist¹ at the Gerald R. Ford² School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, told us the difference between the N95 masks used in hospitals and the football team masks is akin³ to the difference between real gems⁴ and costume jewelry⁵. The N95 respirator, when fit closely, is designed to block at least 95% of microscopic⁶ airborne particles. Of the football team masks, Professor Wolfers says, my understanding is that they're somewhat effective at preventing the wearer's germs from being sneezed out all over the place, but they don't provide much protection to the wearer from germs that others may have sprayed their way. In football terms, the NFL masks might be good defense⁷, but offensive germs can still break through.

Justin Wolfers explains that the masks are produced by different supply lines. Medical manufacturers are stretched thin in this pandemic and find it hard to keep up with demand. But the apparel industry is shedding jobs and needs new work now. So while fashion masks roll out quickly, medical masks can be delayed.

You could tell the story of American ingenuity⁸, opening up new forms of production as needed, Professor Wolfers told us. I was thinking more the opposite, though - how difficult it can be to get an economy to shift overnight, especially given that we've needed these masks for quite a while.

As a Bears fan, I haven't decided⁹ whether to buy a logo mask. Even if they're limited as protective gear, they're certainly a telling memento¹⁰ of these times.

(SOUNDBITE OF FLEETWOOD MAC SONG, "BEHIND THE MASK")

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

3 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

4 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

5 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

6 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 ingenuity   

n.别出心裁；善于发明创造

参考例句：

• The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
• I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 memento   

n.纪念品，令人回忆的东西

参考例句：

• The photos will be a permanent memento of your wedding.这些照片会成为你婚礼的永久纪念。
• My friend gave me his picture as a memento before going away.我的朋友在离别前给我一张照片留作纪念品。