[時事英文] 台灣總統：我的國家如何預防COVID-19大爆發

Thank you for giving us hope.

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《時代雜誌》報導：

Taiwan is an island of resilience. Centuries of hardship have compelled our society to cope, adapt, and survive trying circumstances. We have found ways to persevere through difficult times together as a nation, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Despite the virus’s highly infectious nature and our proximity to its source, we have prevented a major outbreak. As of April 14, we have had fewer than 400 confirmed cases.

1、resilience 有彈力；復原力；適應性強
2、compel 強迫，迫使；激發，引起
3、cope （成功地）對付，應付，處理
4、trying circumstances 艱難的形勢
5、persevere 鍥而不捨，堅持不懈
6、highly infectious nature病毒的高度傳染性
7、proximity to 接近，鄰近；臨近
8、as of 根據上下文可為「從…起」或「截止至」，本文為「截止至」*

*as of
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as%20of

台灣是「堅韌之島」，數百年來歷經滄桑，終究能克服逆境並生存下來。我們全國上下總能堅忍共度，面對新型冠狀病毒疫情也是如此。儘管病毒傳染性非常高，而我們又與病毒發源地近在咫尺，不過，我們還是成功遏止了境內的大流行。截至4月14日止，累計確診病例不到400例。

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This success is no coincidence. A combination of efforts by medical professionals, government, private sector and society at large have armored our country’s defenses. The painful lessons of the 2003 SARS outbreak, which left Taiwan scarred with the loss of dozens of lives, put our government and people on high alert early on. Last December, when indications of a contagious new respiratory illness began to appear in China, we began monitoring incoming passengers from Wuhan. In January, we established the Central Epidemic Command Center to handle prevention measures. We introduced travel restrictions, and established quarantine protocols for high-risk travelers.

9、coincidence 偶然的機遇，運氣
10、society at large 整體社會
11、armor (v.) our country’s defenses 武裝了我國的防禦(此處指防疫)
12、leave someone scarred 留下創傷
13、put on high alert 保持高度警戒
14、a contagious new respiratory illness 一種新型呼吸道傳染性疾病
15、quarantine protocols 隔離處置流程

台灣的成功並非偶然。在醫療人員、公私部門及整個社會的共同努力下，我國做好了防疫的準備。在2003年的嚴重急性呼吸道症候群（SARS）疫情中，我們痛失了數十條人命。這個慘痛經驗讓政府及民眾在疫情初期階段就保持高度警戒。去年12月，當中國開始出現新型呼吸道傳染性疾病的跡象時，我們就開始管控從武漢入境旅客的健康狀況。今年1月，我們成立了中央流行疫情指揮中心，推動防疫措施，實施旅遊限制，並針對高風險旅客訂定隔離處置流程。

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Upon the discovery of the first infected person in Taiwan on Jan. 21, we undertook rigorous investigative efforts to track travel and contact history for every patient, helping to isolate and contain the contagion before a mass community outbreak was possible. In addition to the tireless efforts of our public-health professionals, spearheaded by Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, our informed citizens have done their part. Private businesses, franchises and apartment communities have initiated body-temperature monitoring and disinfection steps that have supplemented government efforts in public spaces.

16、undertake （開始）做，承擔，從事（尤指耗時或困難之事）
17、rigorous嚴密的，縝密的；嚴謹的
18、contagion 接觸傳染
19、a mass community outbreak 大規模社區傳染
20、spearhead (v.) 領導（攻擊、行動等）；充當…的先鋒；帶頭做
21、do one's part 盡…的責任；盡…所能
22、franchise 特許經銷權
23、disinfection steps 消毒措施
24、supplement 增加，補充，增補

1月21日，台灣出現首例確診病例後，即進行嚴密的疫調，追溯每個病例的旅遊及接觸史，防堵大規模社區傳染於未然。除了衛生福利部陳時中部長帶領公衛專家不懈的努力外，國人都能充分掌握資訊並配合。私人企業和住宅社區也啟動體溫監測及消毒措施，呼應政府在公共空間的防疫努力。

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To prevent mass panic buying, at an early stage the government monitored market spikes in commodities and took over the production and distribution of medical-grade masks. With the cooperation of private machine-tool and medical-supply companies, the Ministry of Economic Affairs coordinated additional production lines for surgical masks, multiplying production capacity. Supported by technology experts, pharmacies and convenience stores, we devised a system for distributing rationed masks. Here, masks are available and affordable to both hospitals and the general public. The joint efforts of government and private companies—a partnership we have deemed “Team Taiwan”—have also enabled us to donate supplies to seriously affected countries.

25、panic buying 恐慌性採購
26、market spikes 市場波動
27、take over 接任；接管，接手
28、surgical masks （外科）手術用的口罩；醫療口罩
29、medical-grade masks醫療用口罩
30、multiply production capacity 大幅增加產能
31、the joint efforts of… …的共同努力
32、spike (n.) （通常指在下跌前）非常高的數量，價格或程度*

*spike: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/spike

為預防大眾恐慌性採購，政府初期就密切監控商品市場的波動，並接管醫療用口罩的製造與分配。經由工具機與醫療用品公司的合作，經濟部協調擴增口罩生產線，加倍產能。另外又在科技專家、藥局及便利商店的支持配合下，我們設計出一套配售口罩的機制，讓台灣的醫院和民眾都買得到也負擔得起。在我們政府與民間企業合組的「國家隊」通力合作下，使台灣有餘力捐贈物資給疫情嚴重的國家。

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Taiwan has one of the world’s top health care systems, strong research capabilities and transparent information that we actively share with both the public and international bodies. Indeed, Taiwan has effectively managed the containment of the corona-virus within our borders. Yet on a global level, COVID-19 is a humanitarian disaster that requires the joint efforts of all countries. Although Taiwan has been unfairly excluded from the WHO and the U.N., we remain willing and able to utilize our strengths across manufacturing, medicine and technology to work with the world.

33、strong research capabilities 強大的研發能力
34、transparent information 公開透明的資訊
35、humanitarian disaster 人道災難
36、be unfairly excluded from 被不公的排除在…外
37、utilize one's strengths 利用…的強項

台灣除了擁有全球數一數二的醫療體系以及強大的研發能力外，我們也致力於資訊的公開透明並積極與民眾及國際組織分享。台灣確實已有效遏阻國內疫情，但在國際社會，新型冠狀病毒是一場人道災難，需要所有國家的通力合作。儘管臺灣遭受不公平待遇，被排除在世界衛生組織和聯合國之外，但我們仍然願意並發揮我國在製造、醫藥與科技的強項，與全世界攜手合作。

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Global crises test the fabric of the inter-national community, stretching us at the seams and threatening to tear us apart. Now more than ever, every link in this global network must be accounted for. We must set aside our differences and work together for the benefit of humankind. The fight against COVID-19 will require the collective efforts of people around the world.

38、the fabric of （尤指社會或建築物的）結構，構造
39、set aside 擱置，放在一旁

全球危機考驗整個國際社會的韌性，要打擊並撕裂我們。因此，現在比以往更須要重視全球網絡中的每一個連結。我們必須擱置歧見，只有全球人民齊心努力，才能對抗新型冠狀病毒，也才能共同為人類謀福。

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Taiwan is no stranger to hardship, and our resilience stems from our willingness to unite to surmount even the toughest obstacles. This, above all else, is what I hope Taiwan can share with the world: the human capacity to overcome challenges together is limitless. Taiwan can help.

40、be no stranger to sth 熟悉 (特定的經歷或活動)
41、stem from sth 由於某事而開始或發展
42、surmount (v.) obstacles 克服障礙

台灣飽經苦難，堅忍不拔，因為大家願意攜手團結，共度任何難關。最重要的是，我希望台灣能讓世界了解：人類共同克服挑戰的潛能是無限的。台灣能幫忙。

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文章出處

時代雜誌: https://bit.ly/2VELMr4

中譯文出處: https://bit.ly/2Ke3XP3

圖片出處: https://bit.ly/3ckLjB2

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