VOA慢速英语--亚洲多国采取行动阻止冠状病毒病例的急剧上升

Asian Countries Move to Stop Sharp Rise in Coronavirus Cases

Several countries around Asia and the Pacific Ocean have moved quickly to stop a new increase in coronavirus cases.

The number of infections has risen quickly in recent months in several countries. Officials in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam announced new measures Friday to slow the spread of the virus.

At the beginning of the pandemic, many Asian countries appeared to have fought the virus successfully after announcing travel restrictions² and national shutdowns.

Now, however, the highly contagious³ delta⁴ variant⁵ has hit these countries hard. They are setting records for new cases and deaths. The variant, combined with low vaccination⁶ rates and a rush to reopen economies, has led to new problems.

While the numbers are high, they are not close to the numbers seen in Europe and the United States last year. But low vaccination rates in many Asian nations may signal problems to come.

Thailand reported a record 75 deaths on Thursday and 72 on Friday. South Korea set a record for the number of new cases on Thursday, only to break it on Friday with 1,316 infections. Those numbers were reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Indonesia also has had an increase in infections that has hospitals turning patients away and oxygen supplies running low.

Of Thailand's confirmed cases and deaths since the pandemic started, more than 90 percent have come since April. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's handling of the crisis has been criticized, including the decision to permit travel for a major holiday in April.

In addition to requiring face coverings and other measures, the government on Friday reduced working hours for public transportation and markets.

"There is something wrong with the government policies, our vaccinations⁷ are too slow, and we should get better vaccines⁹," said Cherkarn Rachasevet, a 60-year-old technology worker. She was in a store to buy additional face coverings before the new restrictions took effect. She said she would not get her first vaccination until the end of July.

Across the Asia-Pacific area, the feeling of having successfully fought the pandemic last year led to low vaccination rates. There was little sense of urgency, so production and vaccination efforts fell behind.

Many experts praised South Korea for its actions at the start of the pandemic. It tested citizens quickly and kept information on the sick. Now, as the delta variant spreads, critics say the government pushed to ease social restrictions too quickly. A shortage of vaccines has left 70 percent of the country waiting for their first shot.

Officials in the Seoul area announced Friday that the strongest restrictions yet would start next week. Religious and social centers are closed. Visitors to hospitals and homes for retired¹⁰ people are banned. Private gatherings¹¹ of more than three people are banned after 6 p.m.

Coronavirus cases and deaths in Indonesia have increased by more than 100 percent over the last two weeks. New restrictions were announced July 3. The islands of Java, Bali, and Sumatra have been hit hard. The health system is under severe pressure.

In Malaysia, the public has been told to stay home since June 1. But new cases continue to increase. The number of deaths has risen 100 percent since June 1.

Vietnam also imposed stronger restrictions on Friday. In Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest city, people are only permitted to leave home for food or medicine for two weeks.

Vietnam reported almost no new cases for three months. Then, at the end of April as the delta variant spread, the numbers began to climb. In the last two months, the country has recorded 22,000 new cases.

Admitting it was a difficult situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that "it was necessary to curb¹² the pandemic." Only four percent of the population has received at least one injection of the vaccine⁸.

Japan and Australia also announced new restrictions this week. Japan is being watched since its state of emergency means visitors will be banned from events in the upcoming Olympics.

The only country in Asia that appears to be doing well is India, where the delta variant was first found. It had a large increase in cases and deaths in April and May.

New cases and deaths are now decreasing, but only five percent of the country is fully¹ vaccinated¹³.

Words in This Story

contagious –adj. able to pass from person to person quickly and easily

variant –n. different in some way from others of the same kind

curb –v. to control or limit something

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 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。

4 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

5 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

6 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

7 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》

8 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。

9 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。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

12 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

13 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？