中新网评:美国“全球抗疫第一”?既不尊重生命,也不尊重科学

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中新网北京7月15日电 (蒋鲤)彭博社日前发布最新一期“全球抗疫排名”,其中,美国位列第一。然而,最新数据显示,美国新冠肺炎累计确诊人数近3400万,累计死亡人数超60万,且过去7日平均新增病例数超两万。这样的美国,如何担得起“全球第一抗疫大国”?

细究“排名”背后,美国的“全球抗疫第一”来自于以往排名中最为关键的确诊病例和死亡人数等要素被删掉,引入“重新开放进程”等作为新的排名因素,将“正常化”作为重要衡量标准,并将执行封锁和出入境防疫管理政策视为负面因素。为了让美国占据排行榜榜首,这样的一番操作委实令人大跌眼镜。

当下,新冠病毒频繁变异,全球疫情不断反复,德尔塔等变异毒株在美迅速蔓延,这一可笑的“排名”却执意将“重新开放”视为头等大事,既不尊重生命,也不尊重科学。仅凭借不计后果的开放措施摘取“全球第一抗疫大国”,实在难以服众。

除此之外,在该“排名”所考量的疫苗覆盖率方面,美国也令世界大失所望。美国不仅未完成总统拜登所制定的7月4日前让70%美国成年人接种至少1剂新冠疫苗的接种目标,也没有兑现6月底前向海外提供8000万剂疫苗的援助承诺。美国政府对内抗疫不力,导致新冠死亡人数位居世界首位;对外援助迟迟不到位,使众多等待援助的发展中国家民众仍然生活在水深火热之中。

如此排名,是对不幸染病患者的轻慢,更是对逝去的60万生命的亵渎。奉劝美国不要沉浸于“抗疫第一”的假象,而忽略真正重要的抗疫措施。毕竟,一个枉顾事实的“排名”,不仅无法扭转政府抗疫不力的局面,更会点燃深受疫情威胁的民众的怒火。

美国媒体炮制的这一“排名”,就像是为在疫情冲击下迟缓不前的美国政府穿上了“皇帝的新装”。然而,不管是美国国内民众,还是全球大多数国家和地区仍在坚持对抗疫情的人们,都不会被轻易蒙蔽。

U.S. topping 'COVID Resilience Ranking' disrespects lost lives, science

By John Lee

(ECNS) – Bloomberg has released a new edition of the "COVID Resilience Ranking,” placing the United States first in fighting COVID-19. As of July 14, the U.S. has recorded nearly 34 million COVID-19 cases and more than 600,000 deaths. Does it live up to such a good reputation?

The new ranking was mainly attributed to changes in evaluation standards. Key indicators such as confirmed cases and death tolls, which used to be paramount factors, have been ruled out by Bloomberg. Instead, it introduced a new element — Reopening Progress — to the "COVID Resilience Ranking,” defining anti-pandemic results by "normalization” while putting lockdown and border curbs into negative indicators.

At present, the coronavirus is still mutating and the Delta variant is spreading rapidly in the U.S. The change of new indicators shows a disrespect both for the lives lost and science. The ranking, therefore, is not convincing.

What's more, the U.S. government has disappointed the world in terms of immunization coverage. It not only fell short of President Joe Biden’s goal of partially vaccinating 70 percent of American adults by Independence Day, but also put off its plan to send 80 million vaccine doses overseas by the end of June. The government's failure domestically and internationally has led to an astonishing number of deaths in the U.S. and a dire need for vaccines in the developing countries it has promised to help.

Bloomberg’s ranking is irresponsible for patients who are still suffering from the virus, but also disrespects the 600,000 lives claimed by the virus. The U.S. should not fall back on the illusion of first place and ignore truly important anti-epidemic indicators.

The ranking concocted by the American media is like the "Emperor's New Clothes" for the sluggish U.S. government amid the pandemic. However, people around the world will not let themselves be easily fooled.