VOA慢速英语--全世界都在努力应对影响假期的限制措施

Many countries around the world have put in place stronger measures meant to control the spread of the new coronavirus. But these new restrictions¹ are causing tensions because they affect holiday observances and traditions.

In some places, celebrations of Christmas and other upcoming holidays are being limited or even canceled.

Health officials in the United States worked hard to urge people to stay home over Thanksgiving, held on November 26. But many Americans chose to travel and gather anyway.

On Twitter, Dr. Tatiana Prowell of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine blamed the way the American people think. She wrote: "The U.S. ‘each person for himself' mindset is killing² hundreds of thousands of us."

In recent weeks, three drugmakers have announced promising³ results for effective vaccines⁴ against the new coronavirus. But an approved vaccine⁵ is unlikely to be widely available to the public for months.

Scientists are reminding the public of the continued need for measures meant to limit the spread of the virus. And politicians in many countries are considering additional restrictions for Christmas as a second wave of the virus spreads.

European countries consider holiday restrictions

On Wednesday, Germany reported a record 410 COVID-19 deaths within 24 hours. Chancellor⁶ Angela Merkel and 16 federal state leaders planned to discuss an extension of restrictions into December and for Christmas and the New Year.

Italy reported 853 deaths related to COVID-19 on Tuesday.

In France, new infections and the number of people in hospitals with the virus dropped, as a national lockdown went into its fourth week.

French President Emmanuel Macron says France will start easing its COVID-19 restrictions within days. Stores, theaters and movie theaters could reopen by Christmas. The hope is that people can spend the holidays with their families.

Macron said Tuesday that people could start being vaccinated⁷ by the end of the year. "We will very likely...start vaccination⁸ of the most vulnerable populations...as soon as the end of December, early January," he said in a televised speech.

Air France-KLM is one of several airlines preparing to transport millions of doses of temperature-sensitive vaccines.

Parts of Britain agreed to temporarily ease restrictions for the Christmas holiday and permit up to three households to meet at home.

But European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against easing restrictions too quickly.

"We must learn from the summer and not repeat the same mistakes," she told the European Parliament. "Relaxing too fast and too much is a risk for a third wave after Christmas."

Words in This Story

lockdown –n. preventing people from going out in an effort to prevent the spread of disease; to keep prisoners in their cells because of an incident

vulnerable –adj. likely to be harmed, able to be hurt easily

dose –n. the amount of a medicine needed to fight disease

relax –v. to make or become less severe, strict or disciplined

1 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

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 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。

5 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。

6 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

7 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？

8 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。