中新網評：美國“全球抗疫第一”？既不尊重生命，也不尊重科學

中新網北京7月15日電 (蔣鯉)彭博社日前發佈最新一期“全球抗疫排名”，其中，美國位列第一。然而，最新數據顯示，美國新冠肺炎累計確診人數近3400萬，累計死亡人數超60萬，且過去7日平均新增病例數超兩萬。這樣的美國，如何擔得起“全球第一抗疫大國”？

細究“排名”背後，美國的“全球抗疫第一”來自於以往排名中最為關鍵的確診病例和死亡人數等要素被刪掉，引入“重新開放進程”等作為新的排名因素，將“正常化”作為重要衡量標準，並將執行封鎖和出入境防疫管理政策視為負面因素。為了讓美國佔據排行榜榜首，這樣的一番操作委實令人大跌眼鏡。

當下，新冠病毒頻繁變異，全球疫情不斷反覆，德爾塔等變異毒株在美迅速蔓延，這一可笑的“排名”卻執意將“重新開放”視為頭等大事，既不尊重生命，也不尊重科學。僅憑藉不計後果的開放措施摘取“全球第一抗疫大國”，實在難以服眾。

除此之外，在該“排名”所考量的疫苗覆蓋率方面，美國也令世界大失所望。美國不僅未完成總統拜登所制定的7月4日前讓70%美國成年人接種至少1劑新冠疫苗的接種目標，也沒有兑現6月底前向海外提供8000萬劑疫苗的援助承諾。美國政府對內抗疫不力，導致新冠死亡人數位居世界首位；對外援助遲遲不到位，使眾多等待援助的發展中國家民眾仍然生活在水深火熱之中。

如此排名，是對不幸染病患者的輕慢，更是對逝去的60萬生命的褻瀆。奉勸美國不要沉浸於“抗疫第一”的假象，而忽略真正重要的抗疫措施。畢竟，一個枉顧事實的“排名”，不僅無法扭轉政府抗疫不力的局面，更會點燃深受疫情威脅的民眾的怒火。

美國媒體炮製的這一“排名”，就像是為在疫情衝擊下遲緩不前的美國政府穿上了“皇帝的新裝”。然而，不管是美國國內民眾，還是全球大多數國家和地區仍在堅持對抗疫情的人們，都不會被輕易矇蔽。

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.