VOA慢速英语2021 报道称拜登考虑要求联邦雇员全员接种新冠疫苗（在线收听）

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is considering ordering federal employees to prove that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Also under consideration are requirements for regular testing and wearing of face coverings or masks.

美国总统乔·拜登领导下的政府正考虑下令联邦雇员证明他们已经接种了新冠肺炎疫苗。同时还在考虑要求定期检测和佩戴口罩。

The possible actions would represent a major policy change as concerns grow about the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

随着对新冠病毒高传染性德尔塔变种传播的担忧日益加剧，这些可能举动将代表一项重大的政策变化。

A person who knows about the plans spoke to the Associated Press but asked not to be identified. The person said the possible official order, or mandate, for vaccination could be put in place even if an area does not have a high rate of transmission of the virus. Administration officials are expected to release their final decision this week.

一位了解这些计划的人士接受了美联社采访，但是他要求匿名。该人士表示，即使某个地区的病毒传播率不高，也可能会执行这份强制接种疫苗的官方命令。预计政府官员将在本周公布他们的最终决定。

The Office of Management and Budget says that in 2020 there were more than 4.2 million federal workers including those in the military.

美国行政管理和预算办公室表示，2020年美国有超过420万联邦雇员，其中包括军队。

Biden suggested on Tuesday that expanding a vaccination requirement to all federal workers was "under consideration." He offered no additional details. The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first federal agency to require vaccinations for its health workers.

拜登周二表示，正在考虑将疫苗接种要求扩大到所有联邦工作人员。他没有提供更多细节。周一，美国退伍军人事务部成为首个要求其卫生工作者接种疫苗的联邦机构。

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, changed its guidelines for mask wearing. It recommended that all Americans living in areas with "substantial and high transmission" rates of COVID-19 should wear masks indoors whether they have been vaccinated or not.

周二，美国疾控预防中心更改了其指南要求佩戴口罩。它建议所有生活在新冠肺炎大量和高传播率地区的美国人无论是否接种过疫苗，在室内都应该佩戴口罩。

Masks are now required at the White House again. And an assistant to Vice President Kamala Harris asked reporters to wear masks during Harris's meeting with Native American leaders on voting issues. The recent information from the CDC says that Washington, D.C. has a substantial transmission rate of COVID-19.

白宫现在再次要求佩戴口罩。副总统卡马拉·哈马斯的一名助理在哈里斯就投票问题会见美洲原住民领导人时就要求记者戴上口罩。美国疾控预防中心的最新信息表明，华盛顿特区的新冠肺炎传播率很高。

In addition to the White House, masks also are being required in the House of Representatives. The Capitol's Attending Physician Brian Monahan required masks for all individuals whether or not they had been vaccinated when entering rooms in the House area. Earlier rules that fined representatives can be put in place again, reports say.

除了白宫，众议院也要求戴上口罩。国会大厦的主治医生布莱恩·莫纳汉要求所有人在进入众议院区域的房间时都要戴上口罩，而无论他们是否接种过疫苗。报道称，此前对（违规）议员处以罚款的规定可能会再次执行。

In the Senate, however, masks are recommended but not required.

然而在参议院是建议而不是强制戴上口罩。

Biden dismissed concerns that the new mask guidance from the CDC would create confusion among Americans. He said people who remain unvaccinated are the ones causing problems.

拜登驳斥了关于美国疾控预防中心要求佩戴口罩的新指南可能会在美国人中造成混乱的担忧。他说造成问题的是那些仍然没有接种疫苗的人。

After speaking to employees at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Tuesday, Biden said: "The more we learn about this virus and the Delta variation, the more we have to be worried and concerned."

拜登周二在跟美国国家情报总监办公室员工交谈后表示：“我们对新冠病毒和德尔塔变种了解得越多，我们就越需要担心。”

Some state and local governments, private companies and hospital administrators and universities have changed their rules in recent months. They are requiring masks and vaccinations.

最近几个月，一些州和地方政府、私营公司和医院行政人员以及大学修改了他们的规定。他们开始要求佩戴口罩和接种疫苗。

About 60 percent of American adults have been fully vaccinated. Health officials say the most recent wave of coronavirus cases has hit communities with low rates of vaccination. The United States' average is currently over 50,000 cases a day.

大约60%的美国成年人已经完全接种了疫苗。卫生官员表示，最近一波新冠病毒病例席卷了疫苗接种率低的社区。美国目前平均每天新增超过5万例病例。

The administration has so far avoided requiring its own employees to get vaccinated. News media reports say this is because the issue of getting or not getting the vaccine against the novel coronavirus has become a political dispute.

迄今为止，政府一直避免要求自己的员工接种疫苗。新闻机构报道称，这是因为是否接种新冠疫苗已经成为一项政治争议。