VOA慢速英语2020--有呼吸问题的女性帮助对抗口罩短缺

Sien Lagae of Belgium has only 20 percent of lung capacity. She was already careful to avoid viruses even before the COVID-19 crisis. Lagae has depended on caregivers for years. They help her get dressed, clean her house and provide her with health care at her home.

Recently, one of her caregivers told Lagae she had paid 10 euros for a mask to protect herself and others from the virus. That gave Lagae, who loves to sew, an idea.

"I...had the idea to make some face masks for my physiotherapist so that she could protect herself and her patients better," Lagae said.

What started as a one-person operation about a week ago has grown into a small army of at-home Belgian mask makers¹. Lagae opened the effort with a Facebook page called Sewing Mouth Masks. She had 3,000 members within two days. On Friday, that number rose to 5,300.

Belgian medical officials provided Lagae with a design for masks and advised her on what materials she should use. She uses two layers of cotton cloth so that the masks can be washed in very hot water and reused.

Each person on the team makes about 20 masks per day and not all the producers are female.

"We have plenty of men," she said. "Everyone who wants to help is welcome, even if you only make one a day."

The coronavirus spreads mainly through drops of liquid expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Masks that cover the mouth and nose are an important tool in blocking the droplets². However, there is a severe shortage of masks in hospitals around the world, leaving health care workers exposed.

The World Health Organization is asking manufacturers to increase their mask production by 40 percent. And Belgium's Van De Velde lingerie company is now producing masks for hospitals. The hospitals provide the material to the company and Van De Velde provides the labor³ for free.

Among Belgium's new volunteer mask makers is Anais Moyson. She is staying at home with her 3-year-old child because of Belgium's coronavirus restrictions⁴. Moyson said her sister-in-law delivers babies in hospital. The midwife and her coworkers are affected⁵ by the mask shortage. So, Moyson decided⁶ to help them by making masks. "I will also bring some to my doctors in the neighborhood and to the nursing homes, " she added.

Volunteer Lies Astro is sewing masks for family and friends.

She could not find masks anywhere so, she said, she made one for herself. "Everyone was laughing at me," she added, "and now all my friends want one," she said.

Words in This Story

capacity - n. the amount that can be held in a room or container

mask - n. a clothe that goes around the face, mouth or eyes

sew - v. to use thread to combine pieces of fabric⁷

physiotherapist - n. a medical professional who works to strengthen the body

lingerie - n. clothing worn underneath outer garments

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 droplets   

n.小滴( droplet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Droplets of sweat were welling up on his forehead. 他额头上冒出了滴滴汗珠。 来自辞典例句
• In constrast, exhaled smoke contains relatively large water droplets and appears white. 相反，从人嘴里呼出的烟则包含相当大的水滴，所以呈白色。 来自辞典例句

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 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

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。