新加坡衛(wèi)生部宣布，從12月8日起，符合接種疫苗條件卻主動(dòng)放棄接種的人，若感染新冠病毒，需自付醫(yī)藥費(fèi)。此舉是為了鼓勵(lì)未接種疫苗的民眾盡快接種。

Singapore will no longer pay the Covid-19 medical bills for people “unvaccinated by choice”, the government said, as the country grapples with a surge in cases.

隨著近期新冠病例激增，新加坡政府表示，新加坡將不再為“自愿選擇不打疫苗的”人群支付新冠肺炎醫(yī)療賬單。

The government currently covers the full Covid medical costs for all Singaporeans, as well as permanent residents and long-term visa holders, unless they test positive soon after returning home from overseas.

新加坡政府目前為所有公民、永久居民和長(zhǎng)期簽證持有者全額支付新冠肺炎醫(yī)療費(fèi)用，從海外歸國(guó)后不久檢測(cè)出感染新冠病毒的人除外。

However from 8 December, the government said it will “begin charging Covid-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice”.

但是，新加坡政府稱，將從12月8日起“開(kāi)始對(duì)自愿選擇不打疫苗的新冠患者收取治療費(fèi)”。

It said unvaccinated people “make up a sizeable majority of those who require intensive in-patient care and disproportionately contribute to the strain on our healthcare resources”.

新加坡政府指出，不打疫苗的人“占據(jù)了重癥監(jiān)護(hù)患者的大多數(shù)，并且極大地造成國(guó)內(nèi)醫(yī)療資源的緊張”。

Covid-related medical bills will still be paid for people who aren’t eligible for a vaccine. The government will also foot the bill for individuals who are partially vaccinated until 31 December, giving them time to get a second dose.

對(duì)于不符合接種疫苗條件的患者，政府依然會(huì)為其支付新冠相關(guān)醫(yī)療賬單。政府還會(huì)繼續(xù)為只打了第一針疫苗的患者承擔(dān)新冠治療費(fèi)，直到12月31日，好讓他們有時(shí)間打第二針。

Singapore has among the highest coverage rates in the world, with 85% of the eligible population fully vaccinated.

新加坡的疫苗接種率是全世界最高的，符合接種條件的人口已有85%完成接種。

Yet the city state is struggling with rising Covid infections and last month warned its healthcare system was at risk of being “overwhelmed” by surging cases. It came a day after the country expanded quarantine-free travel as part of a shift in its approach to dealing with the pandemic.

但是，該國(guó)目前正在努力應(yīng)對(duì)不斷增加的新冠病例。上個(gè)月新加坡政府警告稱，醫(yī)療系統(tǒng)可能會(huì)因新冠病例暴增而“不堪重負(fù)”。一天前，新加坡剛剛擴(kuò)大入境免隔離名單，這是該國(guó)應(yīng)對(duì)疫情的新舉措。

The prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, previously said the global business hub could not remain closed indefinitely, and Singapore has moved from a zero-tolerance strategy with lockdowns and closed borders to living with Covid-19.

新加坡總理李顯龍先前表示，作為全球經(jīng)濟(jì)中心，新加坡不能無(wú)限期地封閉國(guó)門，新加坡已經(jīng)從封鎖和關(guān)閉邊境的“清零”策略轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)榕c新冠共存的新模式。

A spike in infections after the relaxation of some restrictions prompted the island to pause further reopening in late October. Social curbs were extended for around a month in order to contain the spread of Covid and ease the pressure on the healthcare system.

新加坡放松部分限制措施后確診病例數(shù)量激增，迫使該國(guó)在十月底暫停進(jìn)一步開(kāi)放國(guó)門。為了遏制新冠病毒傳播，減輕對(duì)醫(yī)療系統(tǒng)的壓力，政府將社交限制措施延期了近一個(gè)月。

On 8 November, the country reported 2,470 new cases and 14 deaths. The ministry of heath said 67 Covid cases were critically ill in intensive care.

11月8日，該國(guó)報(bào)告了2470例新增病例和14例死亡病例。衛(wèi)生部稱，67例新冠患者目前在重癥監(jiān)護(hù)室接受治療。

英文來(lái)源：衛(wèi)報(bào)

翻譯&編輯：丹妮