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VOA慢速英语2021 --古巴是美洲艾滋病发病率最高的国家

时间:2021-07-24 23:44:57

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Cuba Has Highest Rate of COVID Cases in Americas

Cuba largely kept coronavirus infections low last year. But now, the Caribbean nation has the highest infection rate per person in Latin America. That is threatening the country's health care system and has led to protests of the communist government.

The country of 11 million people reported nearly 4,000 cases per million people over the last week. That is nine times higher than the world average and more than any other country in the Americas for its size.

The sharp rise in cases is being fueled by the highly infectious Delta1 variant2. Hospitals in the area of Matanzas are very crowded and are close to failing. State media reports have shown images of patients in beds. They also have reported that doctors say there is a lack of oxygen and other supplies.

Cuba's handling of the pandemic was one issue that drove thousands to the streets last Sunday in anti-government protests. People also protested shortages of food and medicine.

Cuba is not alone in struggling with the pandemic. But the country's strong healthcare system is a politically important part in keeping the country's one-party system in power.

Daniel Rodriguez is a Cuban-American historian. He wrote a book on the country's medical politics. The government, he said, has "made the case that one of the main accomplishments4 of the revolution is its world-class medical sector5."

When cases of the virus began to rise sharply, he said, "it appeared increasingly the revolutionary government was no longer able to protect Cuban lives, and the result was an extraordinary repudiation6 of the revolution itself."

The spread of the virus and the resulting restrictions7 are also hurting Cuba's already struggling economy. There are fewer numbers of flights. Many Cubans work in the tourism industry and depend on travelers to bring in money and goods -- including medicine.

Rodriguez said food and medicine shortages because of the pandemic have been damaging to the government.

Cuba's government has blamed the demonstrations8 on U.S.-financed "counter-revolutionaries." The government is largely blaming Cuba's struggling economy on American sanctions that were made stricter during the pandemic.

Several countries and non-government organizations called on the U.S. to lift sanctions this week.

On Saturday, officials organized pro-government protests across the island. Thousands of people attended.

But many Cubans have aimed their anger at their own government's handling of the economy and the pandemic.

"We are hungry, there's nothing at the moment, not even medicine," said Aylín Sardiña. She is 33 years old. She attended a protest in Havana.

Cuba has had some pandemic successes. The country has produced five possible vaccines9. Two of them are more than 90 percent effective, based on Cuban data.

Many Cuban doctors went to help other countries deal with the pandemic. The country has one of the highest number of doctors per person in the world.

And generally, cases per person are still under the worldwide average. Deaths per person, while rising, are still just one-third of the worldwide average. The Cuban government says those successes are because of its free, universal healthcare and its experimental medicine.

But with cases now rising fast, Cuba's economic crisis is worsening. Many officials do not want to require strict lockdowns. Many people already have to stand in lines for hours to get goods like food.

So far only about two million people - less than 20 percent of the population - are fully10 vaccinated11.

The country aims to have 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated by September. But experts warned that in the next few weeks, COVID-19 deaths would likely continue to rise.

Libia Ortega is a restaurant worker in Matanzas city. The restaurant is closed because of the pandemic and food shortages.

"You go out onto the street to buy food," she said, "and someone says to you: do you know who else died?"

Words in This Story

handle — v. to deal with (a person, situation, etc.) successfully

transmissible — adj. able to be spread to other people, animals, etc. : capable of being transmitted

accomplishment3 — n. something done, achieved, or accomplished12 successfully

revolution – n. the usually violent attempt by many people to end the rule of one government and start a new one

sector – n. an area of an economy : a part of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs

repudiate13 — v. to refuse to accept or support (something) : to reject (something or someone)

tourism — v. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

sanction — n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

lockdown — n. a state of isolation or restricted access put in place as a security measure


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1 delta gxvxZ     
n.(流的)角洲
参考例句:
  • He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
  • The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔,形成了一个三角洲。
2 variant GfuzRt     
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。
3 accomplishment 2Jkyo     
n.完成,成就,(pl.)造诣,技能
参考例句:
  • The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
  • Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标,钱是至关重要的。
4 accomplishments 1c15077db46e4d6425b6f78720939d54     
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就
参考例句:
  • It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
  • Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
5 sector yjczYn     
n.部门,部分;防御地段,防区;扇形
参考例句:
  • The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
  • The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。
6 repudiation b333bdf02295537e45f7f523b26d27b3     
n.拒绝;否认;断绝关系;抛弃
参考例句:
  • Datas non-repudiation is very important in the secure communication. 在安全数据的通讯中,数据发送和接收的非否认十分重要。 来自互联网
  • There are some goals of Certified E-mail Protocol: confidentiality non-repudiation and fairness. 挂号电子邮件协议需要具备保密性、不可否认性及公平性。 来自互联网
7 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
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
8 demonstrations 0922be6a2a3be4bdbebd28c620ab8f2d     
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威
参考例句:
  • Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
  • The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。
9 vaccines c9bb57973a82c1e95c7cd0f4988a1ded     
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。
10 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
11 vaccinated 8f16717462e6e6db3389d0f736409983     
[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?
12 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
13 repudiate 6Bcz7     
v.拒绝,拒付,拒绝履行
参考例句:
  • He will indignantly repudiate the suggestion.他会气愤地拒绝接受这一意见。
  • He repudiate all debts incurred by his son.他拒绝偿还他儿子的一切债务。

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