VOA慢速英语2020 东京提升新冠病毒警告级别到最高级（在线收听）

The city of Tokyo raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level on Wednesday. City officials acted after record-setting numbers of new infections were reported in the Japanese capital.

东京都周三将其新冠病毒警报提高到最高水平。在东京报告了创纪录数字的新增感染病例之后，市政府官员采取了行动。

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike described the situation in the city as "rather severe."

东京都知事小池百合子称该市形势相当严峻。

The fast spread of the virus in Tokyo could add to growing pressure on Japanese policymakers to protect the world's third-largest economy. Some observers expect Japan's economy to shrink at its fastest rate in many years because of the health crisis.

这种病毒在东京的快速传播可能会增加日本决策者保护这个全球第三大经济体的压力。一些观察家预计，由于这次健康危机，日本经济将以多年来最快的速度萎缩。

The infection rate in Tokyo is at stage "red," the highest of four levels in the city's alert system, Koike said. She promised to increase testing for the coronavirus by using equipment at universities.

小池百合子表示，东京的感染率处于红色阶段，这是该市预警系统4个级别中的最高级别。她承诺通过采用大学的设备来增加对新冠病毒的检测。

Tokyo has recorded 200 or more new cases of the virus in four of the past seven days. Infections among young people and among those who show no real signs of sickness are rising there, health experts have noted.

东京过去一周有4天录得了不低于200例新增病例。卫生专家指出，年轻人感染以及无症状者感染的数量正在增加。

"We are in a situation where we should issue warnings to citizens and businesses," Koike told reporters, urging city residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

小池百合子告诉记者：“我们现阶段应当向市民和企业发出警告。”她督促市民避免不必要的旅行。

Japan's central government is preparing to launch a major "Go To" travel aid campaign that aims to increase tourism within the country.

日本政府正准备发起一项大型的“Go To”旅游促进运动，其目的是提升日本国内的旅游业。

But opposition lawmakers, local-level leaders and social media users have asked the government to suspend that campaign as daily new cases rise. Leaders of some rural towns say that travel in and out of high-risk areas like Tokyo may lead to widespread transmission of the coronavirus.

但是反对派议员、地方政府领导人以及社交媒体用户已经要求政府在每天新增案例攀升的情况下暂停这项运动。一些乡镇领导人表示，进出东京等高风险地区可能会导致新冠病毒的大范围传播。

Japan's economy minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, leads the government's policy on fighting the virus. He says the government will move forward slowly with the "Go To" campaign.

日本经济大臣西村康俊主导了日本政府的抗疫政策。他说，政府将会缓慢推动“Go To”运动。

"Obviously we will consider the thoughts of many of our people, while monitoring the situation ahead," Nishimura told parliament.

西村康俊对国会表示：“显然我们会在关注未来局势的同时考虑到我们诸多民众的想法。”

The travel campaign is among the government's top efforts to increase economic activity. The program is set to start on July 22. It offers big savings on day and overnight trips, as well as on shopping and food purchases.

这次旅游促进运动是日本政府提升经济活动的最高层措施之一。该项目定于7月22日开始。它将为旅行、购物和餐饮提供大幅优惠。

Koike urged the government on Wednesday to reconsider the timing for the campaign.

西村康俊周三督促政府重新考虑这次活动的时机。

Coronavirus infections are not only rising in Tokyo. They are also rising in Osaka prefecture. The area reported 61 new cases on Wednesday. That marks the highest number of daily cases there since April 20.

新冠病毒感染不只是在东京呈上升趋势。大阪府的感染数也在上升。该地区周三报告了61例新增病例。这是4月20日以来日增感染病例的最高记录。

I'm John Russell.

我是约翰·罗素。