Many countries are closing their borders as health experts continue to study the latest version of the coronavirus , the Omicron variant .
在卫生专家继续研究最新的新冠病毒变种——奥密克戎变异株之际，许多国家正在关闭边境。
On Monday , Japan became the latest country to ban all foreigners from entering the country .
周一，日本成为最新一个禁止所有外国人入境的国家。
Over the weekend , Israel and Morocco announced that the countries are closed to all international travelers .
上周末，以色列和摩洛哥宣布对所有国际旅客关闭国门。
Israeli citizens can come back to the country .
以色列公民可以回国。
But they will have to quarantine , even if fully vaccinated .
但即使已完全接种疫苗，他们也必须隔离。
Australia said it would delay reopening the country to international students and workers for two weeks .
澳大利亚表示，将把对国际学生和劳工重新开放国门的时间推迟两周。
The move came after the country reported its first cases of the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus .
此前，该国报告了首批新冠病毒奥密克戎变异株病例。
Across the world , the United States , Brazil , Britain and the European Union announced travel restrictions from eight African countries where the variant was first identified .
在世界各地，美国、巴西、英国和欧盟宣布对最早发现该变异株的八个非洲国家实施旅行限制。
The countries are South Africa , Botswana , Zimbabwe , Namibia , Lesotho , Eswatini , Mozambique , and Malawi .
这些国家是南非、博茨瓦纳、津巴布韦、纳米比亚、莱索托、斯威士兰、莫桑比克和马拉维。
New cases of Omicron infection have since been identified in Hong Kong , Australia , Canada , and several European countries .
此后，香港、澳大利亚、加拿大和几个欧洲国家都发现了新的奥密克戎感染病例。
We'll have to face this new threat just as we face those that come before it .”
我们必须像应对以往的威胁那样应对这一新威胁。”
Variant of concern
值得关注的变异株
The health organization said Omicron “has a large number of mutations , some of which are concerning .”
该卫生组织表示，奥密克戎“有大量突变，其中一些令人担忧”。
A mutation is a change in the genetic material of a virus .
突变是指病毒遗传物质发生的变化。
The WHO added that early evidence suggests “an increased risk of reinfection with this variant , as compared to other VOCs .”
世卫组织补充说，初步证据表明，“与其他值得关注的变异株相比，感染该变异株后再次感染的风险更高”。
Scientists still do not know whether the mutated versions could make it more dangerous .
科学家们仍不知道这些突变版本是否会使其更加危险。
But the WHO said , “There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants .”
但世卫组织表示：“目前没有信息表明与奥密克戎相关的症状与其他变异株不同。”
Dr . Angelique Coetzee , a South African doctor who was one of the first to identify Omicron , spoke to Reuters .
最早发现奥密克戎的人之一、南非医生安热莉克·库切接受了路透社采访。
She said that symptoms of the variant were not severe and could be treated at home .
她说，该变异株的症状并不严重，可以在家治疗。
It is also unknown whether currently approved vaccines or treatments will protect against the variant .
目前也不清楚已获批的疫苗或疗法能否防御该变异株。
Dr . Francis Collins is head of the U.S . National Institutes of Health .
弗朗西斯·柯林斯博士是美国国立卫生研究院院长。
But we don't know that ."
但我们并不知道。”
The companies said , if necessary , they expect to be able to ship a new vaccine against Omicron in about 100 days .
两家公司表示，如有必要，预计能在约100天内交付一种针对奥密克戎的新疫苗。
The Pfizer vaccine uses mRNA technology which uses RNA genetic material to change cells .
辉瑞疫苗采用mRNA技术，利用RNA遗传物质改变细胞。
Moderna is the maker of the other highly effective mRNA vaccine .
莫德纳是另一种高效mRNA疫苗的生产商。
It said it is working on a booster designed to protect against several variants .
该公司表示，正在研发一种旨在防御多种变异株的加强针。
And Johnson & Johnson stated that it was already testing their vaccine against Omicron .
强生公司也表示，已在测试其疫苗对奥密克戎的效果。
Vaccines , however , are still not widely available in poor and developing countries .
然而，疫苗在贫穷国家和发展中国家仍未普及。
In Africa , where Omicron was first reported , only seven percent of the continent's 1.2 billion people have received the shots so far .
在最早报告奥密克戎的非洲，迄今为止该大陆12亿人口中只有7%接种了疫苗。