美国国家公共电台 NPR--WHO says COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency

WHO says COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency

Transcript¹

The World Health Organization has lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19. The declaration had been in effect since Jan. 30, 2020.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

It's official. After three years of illness and millions of deaths, the World Health Organization made a historic announcement just moments ago.

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TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS: It's therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency.

FADEL: The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a news conference just minutes ago. NPR global health correspondent Nurith Aizenman is here to tell us more. Hi.

NURITH AIZENMAN, BYLINE²: Hi, Leila.

FADEL: OK. So it's been more than three years since the WHO declared this global emergency. So what does it actually mean to declare it not a global emergency anymore?

AIZENMAN: Yeah, right. So back on January 30, 2020, when the coronavirus was still mainly limited to China - fewer than a hundred reported cases outside of China - the WHO's head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, used these special powers that he has under an international health agreement to declare this situation - that it was already, quote, "a public health emergency of international concern." And that's a largely symbolic³ move that's available to him under this international health agreement. And again, it is symbolic, but it's one that can also be incredibly powerful in terms of convening⁴ international attention and resources and just mobilization.

FADEL: So does this mean the...

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TEDROS: COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. Almost 7 million deaths have been reported to WHO. But we know the toll⁵ is several times higher, at least 20 million.

AIZENMAN: Yeah, that's Tedros speaking about just how much has happened since then.

FADEL: So why now? Why declare it over now?

AIZENMAN: Well, you know, they pointed⁶ to several reasons, Tedros and also the members of the committee that advised him. And they said that on the one hand, you know, the pandemic is not over. And frankly⁷, it's not WHO that declares whether a pandemic begins and when a pandemic ends. But this tool for, you know, convening global attention is really meant to be during an emergency. And now the pandemic has shifted into a different phase, a very serious phase, and one that's going to require continued attention. But it's no longer in that emergency state, the way they see it.

FADEL: And when you say a different phase, what does that mean? What's next?

AIZENMAN: Well, you know, they're still calling for ongoing⁸ surveillance, ongoing vaccinations⁹. And they're particularly concerned about making sure that the world is aware of any new variants¹¹ that might emerge because they also warned that if that happens, you know, and it's a variant¹⁰ that does cause a new kind of emergency, you know, they might go back and declare, you know, that it is an emergency again.

FADEL: NPR global health correspondent Nurith Aizenman. Thank you so much for your reporting.

AIZENMAN: You're welcome, Leila.

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 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。

3 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

4 convening   

召开( convene的现在分词 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 民10:7但招聚会众的时候、们要吹号、不要吹出大声。
• We warmly welcome the convening of Asia-Europe meeting in London. 热烈欢迎亚欧会议在伦敦召开。

5 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。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

9 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》

10 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。

11 variants   

n.变体( variant的名词复数 )；变种；变型；（词等的）变体

参考例句：

• Those variants will be preserved in the'struggle for existence". 这些变异将在“生存竞争”中被保留下来。 来自辞典例句
• Like organisms, viruses have variants, generally called strains. 与其他生物一样，病毒也有变种，一般称之为株系。 来自辞典例句