由于冠状病毒，美国的养老机构正在购买大量口罩和温度计。他们也在筛查访客，并为医护人员的短缺做准备。
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.
欧洲受疫情影响最严重的国家意大利有100多人死于新冠肺炎。这些死者中要么年纪大，要么自身患病，或者两者兼有。
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.
在美国各地截至周日的21起死亡案例中，至少有16人跟华盛顿西雅图市附近的一处养老院有关。《西雅图时报》报道称，该地区第二家类似养老院和一处退休社区都各报告了一起新冠肺炎确诊病例。
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.
这引起了美国其它养老院的关注，尤其是佛罗里达州和加利福尼亚州。这两个州都住着大量老年人。
About 2.5 million people live in long-term care centers in the United States.
美国大约有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.
马克·帕金森说：“对80岁以上的人来说……（新冠肺炎的）死亡率可高达15%。”他是美国医疗保健协会的会长。
The federal government inspects such centers. It is now working on plans to control infection centers with confirmed cases of coronavirus.
联邦政府负责审查此类养老机构。目前它正在制定计划，以控制已有新冠病毒确诊病例的养老机构。
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.
联邦政府已经要求养老机构雇佣一名传染病预防专家。但是这些养老机构应对新冠病毒的行动并不统一。
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.
佛罗里达州大约有16万老年人居住在某种类型的特殊护理院。克里斯汀·纳普表示，这些地方没有开始筛查访客，“因为我们还没到那个地步。”纳普是佛罗里达州医疗保健协会的发言人。
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.
棕榈园花园公司在佛罗里达州经营了14家养老院。该公司副总裁卢克·诺伊曼表示，现在他们公司的每家养老院都要求访客在抵达时回答一些问题。他们会被问到自己的健康状况，最近的旅行史以及与其他人的接触情况。
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与专业护理中心，患者里奥·玛钱德在床边放了一盒消毒湿巾。他每天都用湿巾消毒几次。这位71岁的退休卡车司机患有呼吸疾病。可能感染新冠病毒让他很是担心。
Many old people housing centers across the country have reported difficulties in finding medical masks and clothing because of shortages.
由于物资短缺，美国各地很多的养老机构都表示，他们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.
一些访客对筛查不满。珍妮特·斯奈普斯是丹佛市霍利海茨护理中心的负责人。她说，很难跟访客解释，筛查是确保老年人安全的必要措施。
I'm Susan Shand.
我是苏珊·尚德。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)