VOA慢速英语2020--关于如何对付新冠病毒的困惑

Confusion¹ over How to Deal with the Virus

Can you spread the new coronavirus if you do not feel sick? Do you need to wear a nose and mouth cover, or mask, to stop the spread of COVID-19?

Health experts have debated these issues since late December, when spread of a new coronavirus was first reported.

For months, the World Health Organization, or WHO, advised people not to wear masks. Other health organizations and governments, however, advised the opposite.

Last week, the WHO changed its mask advice for the general public. The health agency said that people should wear cloth masks in public situations under some conditions. For example, masks are advised when a person cannot stay a safe distance from other people. The WHO said people over the age of 60 should also wear masks in public. And the organization advised people with health conditions, like diabetes² and heart disease, to wear masks.

Part of the reasoning, the experts said, was to prevent spread by people who have the virus but are asymptomatic. That means they do not show signs of disease.

However, at a recent press conference, a COVID-19, WHO expert questioned this kind of spread. Maria Van Kerkhove told the group that data suggests spread by asymptomatic individuals is "very rare."

That characterization³ of asymptomatic spread was criticized widely by doctors and other experts. On Tuesday, she spoke⁴ again, describing asymptomatic spread as a "really complex question."

"We don't actually have that answer yet," she said.

Van Kerkhove said in her earlier comments she was speaking about several small studies of asymptomatic spread. She noted⁵ that there are some estimates that 40 percent of worldwide spread is the result of asymptomatic passage. "But," she said, "those are from models, so I didn't include that in my answer yesterday..."

Still, many other scientists were shocked by the description of asymptomatic spread as "rare." They say there is much evidence that people can spread the disease before showing signs of sickness.

Ivo Vlaev is professor of behavioral science at the University of Warwick in Britain. He said the release of conflicting information about the disease is a problem.

"If you are giving them confusing messages or they're not convinced about why they should do something, like wear masks, they will just ignore you," he said.

Today, there are more than seven million confirmed cases of COVID-19. Here are answers to some questions about the latest COVID-19 guidelines⁶.

Can people who do not feel sick spread COVID-19?

It appears so.

The WHO has said for months that the majority of COVID-19 spread is from people with disease signs, like a fever or cough. Agency officials also said that viral spread by people who do not feel sick was not considered a major driver of the disease.

But, the WHO's emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, clarified this week that both "symptomatic and asymptomatic" people can spread the disease.

Does wearing a mask help?

Probably.

Wearing a mask might not completely protect you from the virus as it can enter the body through the eyes. However, health experts believe mask use helps prevent wearers from spreading the virus if they are infected.

While most spread is thought to happen by coughing and sneezing, Ryan said there is some suggestion that even singing or shouting could spread the virus.

Why are we still not sure?

The virus was first documented in December. The disease is still new to science.

Some scientists say how the WHO identifies asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases is part of the problem.

While truly asymptomatic people are likely not responsible for much virus spread, several studies show that pre-symptomatic people spread the disease. Some experts argue that recognizing and stopping this kind of spread is critical to controlling the crisis⁷.

More research is needed. Few detailed⁸ studies and tests have been done of asymptomatic people and their possible link to disease spread. Some limited studies have suggested people can spread the virus before they show symptoms. The WHO has largely dismissed that research, however.

Babak Javid is an infectious⁹ diseases doctor at Britain's Cambridge University Hospital. He said the WHO should publish its information to show why passage of the disease in people without symptoms is "rare."

I'm Caty Weaver¹⁰.

Words in This Story

confusing - adj. difficult to understand

convinced - adj. completely certain or sure about something

sneeze - v. to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth

1 confusion   

n.困惑，迷乱，混淆，混乱，骚乱

参考例句：

• His answers to my questions have only added to my confusion.他对我的问题的回答只是使我更加困惑不解。
• His unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion.他的突然来访使我们完全不知所措。

2 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

3 characterization   

n.描绘，刻画

参考例句：

• the characterization of physics as the study of simplicity 把物理学界定为一门探求简单规律的学问
• The real value of the book lies in its wonderful characterization. 这本书真正的价值在于精彩的人物塑造。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 guidelines   

n.指导方针，准则

参考例句：

• The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill. 政府制订了对待精神病人的指导方针。
• Planners seem a little uncomfortable with the current government guidelines. 规划师似乎不太接受现行的政府指道方针。

7 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

8 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

9 infectious   

adj.传染的，有传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。
• What an infectious laugh she has!她的笑声多么具有感染力啊！

10 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。