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No. 148

Here's what is known about the Delta variant of coronavirus

我们所知道的冠状病毒德尔塔变异毒株

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is worrying officials around the world. Four major Australian cities went into a four-day "circuit-breaker" lockdown this week to try and stop it from spreading. Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced looser vaccination policies to try to get more people immunized before the variant could spread. Ireland delayed plans to resume indoor service in bars and restaurants and US officials urged Americans to get vaccinated to stop its spread.

新冠病毒德尔塔变异毒株让世界各地的官员感到担忧。澳大利亚四大城市本周均进入了为期4天的“断路器”封锁，试图阻止疫情蔓延。澳大利亚总理斯科特·莫里森（Scott Morrison）宣布了更宽松的疫苗接种政策，试图让更多民众在变异毒株传播前接种疫苗。爱尔兰推迟了恢复酒吧及餐厅室内服务的计划，美国官员敦促美国民众接种疫苗以防止其传播。

The World Health Organization says the Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, has spread to at least 85 countries since it was first identified in India last fall.

世卫组织称，自去年秋季在印度首次发现德尔塔变异毒株（也称为B.1.617.2）以来，该变异株已扩散到至少85个国家。

Here's what is known about the variant so far:

关于该变异毒株，以下是目前我们已知的：

It's spreading fast

传播快

By mid-June, the Delta variant accounted for 99% of Covid-19 cases in the UK, according to Public Health England, and it is set to account for 90% of cases in Europe by the end of August, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

据英国公共卫生署（Public Health England）的数据，到6月中旬，德尔塔变异占英国新冠病例的99%；欧洲疾控中心预测，到8月底，该变异将占欧洲病例的90%。

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates the variant accounts for 26% of new Covid-19 cases -- or at least, that it did as of June 19. It's been reported in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.

在美国，疾病控制与预防中心预估，该变异占新冠总病例的26%，或者至少，截至6月19日。该变异株在包括华盛顿在内的50个州都有报道病例。

It accounted for 10% of lineages as of June 5, meaning its prevalence more than doubled in just two weeks.

到6月5日为止，它的谱系占比已达10%，这意味着它的流行率在短短两周内翻了一番多。

Genetic testing company Helix tells CNN it estimates Delta accounts for 40% of cases in the US at present.

基因检测公司Helix告诉CNN，它估计德尔塔目前占美国病例的40%。

Updated July 1, 2021

Source: CNN

重点词汇（Vocabulary）

1.subjugate [ˈsʌbdʒuɡeɪt] v. 征服；制伏

2.collision[kəˈlɪʒn] n.碰撞；冲突

3.centenary[sen'tenəri] n. 第100周年纪念

3.intimidate[ɪˈtɪmɪdeɪt] v.恐吓;威胁

4.by the same token 由于同样的原因；同样地