Nursing Homes Face Serious Problems from Coronavirus

冠状病毒影响下美国疗养院面临严重问题

Housing centers for old people in the United States are buying large numbers of masks and thermometers because of coronavirus. They are also screening visitors and preparing for shortages of health workers.

由于冠状病毒疫情，美国老年疗养中心购入大量的口罩和温度计。他们还需审查来访者并准备应对医务人员短缺的境况。

In China, where the new virus began, the disease has been much deadlier for old people. In Italy, the most affected country in Europe, more than 100 people have died from COVID-19. All either were old, already had health problems or both.

中国是新病毒最早被发现的地方，在那里这种疾病对老年人来说更为致命。在欧洲受影响最严重的国家意大利，有100多人死于新冠肺炎（COVID-19）。他们或是较为年长的人或是本身存在健康问题的人，或者两种情况都有。

Of the 21 deaths across the U.S. as of Sunday, at least 16 had been linked to a home for old people near Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Times reported that a second similar home and a retirement community in the area had each reported one case of the virus.

截至周日，全美共有21例死亡病例，其中至少16例与华盛顿西雅图附近的老人之家有关。《西雅图时报》报道称，该地区第二个类似的老人之家以及一个退休人员居住的社区都报告了一例确诊病例。

That has gotten the attention of other old people homes in the U.S., especially in Florida and California. Both those states have large numbers of old people.

这引起了美国其他老年之家的关注，尤其是佛罗里达州和加利福尼亚州。这两个州都有大量的老年人居住。

About 2.5 million people live in long-term care centers in the United States.

美国约有250万人居住在长期护理中心。

“For people over the age of 80... the (death) rate could be as high as 15 percent,” said Mark Parkinson. He is president of the American Health Care Association.

“对于80岁以上的人来说……(死亡)率可能高达15%。”马克·帕金森说。他是美国医疗保健协会主席。

The federal government inspects such centers. It is now working on plans to control infection centers with confirmed cases of coronavirus.

联邦政府也在视察此类疗养中心，并且目前也在制定计划，设法控制已有确诊冠状病毒病例的疗养中心。

Federal rules already require the centers to employ an infectious disease prevention specialist. However, action to deal with the coronavirus has been uneven at such centers.

联邦法规已下令要求疗养中心雇用传染病预防专家。然而，这些疗养中心应对冠状病毒的行动并不均衡。

About 160,000 old people live in some type of special care homes in Florida. These places are not screening visitors “because we’re not at that stage,” said Kristen Knapp. She is a spokeswoman for the Florida Health Care Association.

佛罗里达州约有16万老年人居住在某种类型的特殊护理院。克里斯汀·纳普是佛罗里达健康护理协会的发言人。她说，这些地方并不会对来访者进行审查，“因为我们还没到那个阶段”。

The Palm Gardens Corporation operates 14 Florida old people homes. Each is now requiring visitors to answer some questions upon arrival. They are asked about their health, recent travel and contact with others said company Vice President Luke Neumann.

棕榈花园公司在佛罗里达州经营着14家老人之家。每一家都要求访客在到达疗养中心时回答一些问题。公司副总裁卢克·诺伊曼表示，来访者会被问及自己的健康状况，近期旅行史以及与他人的接触史。

At the South Shore Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center south of Boston, patient Leo Marchand keeps a container of disinfecting cloths near his bed. He uses one several times a day. The 71-year-old retired truck driver has breathing problems. The possibility of getting the coronavirus worries him.

在波士顿南部的南岸康复技术护理中心，病人里奥·玛钱德在自己病床旁放了一个放有消毒布的容器。他每天都会使用几次消毒布。这位71岁的退休卡车司机患有呼吸疾病，很担心自己可能被冠状病毒感染。

Many old people housing centers across the country have reported difficulties in finding medical masks and clothing because of shortages.

全国许多老人疗养中心都报告称，由于物资短缺很难弄到医用口罩和防护服。

Some visitors have been angry about the screenings. Janet Snipes is the director of the Holly Heights Nursing Center in Denver. She said it has been difficult to explain to visitors that the screening is necessary to keep the old people there safe.

一些到访者对自己被审查感到气愤。珍妮特·斯奈普斯是丹佛霍利山庄护理中心的负责人。她说，很难向来访者解释，进行审查是确保疗养中心老人们安全的必要措施。

I’m Susan Shand.

苏珊·尚德报道。

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