美国国家公共电台 NPR--Encore: Examining a major part of China's aggressive 'zero-COVID' strategy

Encore: Examining a major part of China's aggressive 'zero-COVID' strategy

Transcript¹

Testing is the cornerstone of China's aggressive efforts to eradicate² COVID-19. Even when it's not mandatory³, it's still necessary. (Story aired on ATC on July 14, 2022.)

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Shanghai is reporting a new wave of COVID-19 cases, and authorities there have launched mandatory mass testing across much of the city to try to stop the spread. Testing is a cornerstone of the Chinese government's aggressive zero-COVID strategy. And NPR's John Ruwitch reports.

JOHN RUWITCH, BYLINE⁴: This is a new part of the soundtrack of life in China these days.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Speaking Mandarin).

RUWITCH: Those are bullhorns playing recorded messages. Some declare that proof of a negative COVID-19 test is required to enter a building or neighborhood. Others announce the procedures at local testing sites.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (Speaking Mandarin).

RUWITCH: In Chinese cities these days, getting tested at one of these sites has become a prominent beat in the rhythm of life.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Speaking Mandarin).

RUWITCH: Here's why. Pretty much every indoor public place requires proof of a negative test - office buildings, restaurants, even the subway. Sometimes you don't have to test every day, but when cases pop up, things get tighter. In Shenzhen, the entire population of 17 million was recently required to test every 24 hours when a handful of cases appeared.

Xiao Xia works as a food delivery guy there, and it doesn't faze him.

XIAO XIA: (Through interpreter) It's not really a question of whether this is a good thing or not. It's everyone's responsibility. All we can do is respect the policy and follow it.

RUWITCH: Test sites dot China's urban landscape. Some are pinnacle⁵ tents on the sidewalk, others more permanent kiosks. In Shanghai, the authorities say there are more than 15,000 of them spread strategically around the city.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Speaking Mandarin).

RUWITCH: That way, officials say, every one of Shanghai's 25 million residents is within a 15-minute walk of a PCR test. The testing is paid for by the local government and free to residents here. Elsewhere, some cities have reportedly blown out their budgets and are charging a small fee. To get tested, you have to show a special QR code in an app on your smartphone.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Speaking Mandarin).

RUWITCH: On a hot afternoon in Shanghai, a health worker in a white hazmat suit checks mine.

So they've scanned my code. I'm now waiting for the guy to put gloves on and swab my mouth. Opening my mouth, here we go.

A long cotton swab is pushed around near the back of my throat for a second or two.

Done.

Later in the evening, the results are negative, and the health code on my phone updates to show that I still don't have COVID-19. For the most part, people seem to be taking it all in stride, like Fiona, who talked to NPR while waiting in a long line to get swabbed in Shenzhen.

FIONA: (Through interpreter) Normally, you can get it done in about 10 or five minutes. There are a lot of test sites now, so it's really convenient.

RUWITCH: Despite China's tight COVID controls, there are still cases here, although the official number and the death toll⁶ are low. Fiona didn't want to give her full name, for fear of criticizing the government. She thinks testing every day is not necessarily a great way to stop the virus.

FIONA: (Through interpreter) But at least it can make everyone feel like they can relax around others because everyone's doing the tests, and everyone has the test results to show for it.

RUWITCH: Things get tricky⁷ when test results are not negative. Anyone who tests positive gets hauled off to a government isolation⁸ facility. Their apartment block and office can be locked down. And if a wave is building, entire cities can be shut down, too, like Shanghai was for two months this spring. Back on the street, a construction worker, surnamed Wu, who also didn't want to give his full name, says getting sick with COVID doesn't scare him.

WU: (Through interpreter) The thing I'm more afraid of is quarantine. If you get COVID, you have to quarantine. That's required.

RUWITCH: And if you're sent to quarantine, he says, it makes it hard to support a family.

John Ruwitch, NPR News, Shanghai.

(SOUNDBITE OF KIASMOS’ "DRAW")

1 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。

2 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

3 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

4 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。

5 pinnacle   

n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰

参考例句：

• Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career.现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
• It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability.它代表了智能的顶峰。

6 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

7 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

8 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。