中英對照讀新聞》’It’s pandemonium’: virus panic-buying hits Los Angeles 「亂成一片」：因病毒而起的恐慌搶購潮衝擊洛杉磯

加州蒙特利公園市一家Ralph’s超市裡，貼出部分商品每人限購2件的告示。（法新社檔案照）

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Sprinting shoppers, rationed mineral water and not a roll of toilet paper to be seen: panic-buying sparked by the new coronavirus soared in Los Angeles this week.

短跑衝刺的購物者、限量購買的礦泉水，和放眼不見一卷衛生紙：新型冠狀病毒掀起的恐慌搶購潮，在洛杉磯增溫。

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Two days after California declared a statewide emergency, wholesale stores were unable to keep up with soaring demand for a range of staple items, as citizens prepare for the worst.

在加州宣布全州進入緊急狀態2天後，一系列主食商品的需求量，由於民眾為最壞狀況做準備而升高，量販店供不應求。

Police in San Bernardino County were called to one store after customers became enraged by the lack of supplies.

聖伯納迪諾郡一家商店發生顧客因買不到東西而抓狂，驚動警方到場處理。

But some shoppers, though concerned, managed to see the lighter side of the situation.

然而，有些購物者雖然也會擔心，卻設法輕鬆看待此事。

"I’m guarded," said emergency responder Andrew wheeling a trolley filled with water, paper towels, limes and ginger ale. "I want to make sure we have the essentials － some mixers, some wines, you know, so if things go bad I can make a drink." (AFP)

急救員安德魯推著裝滿水、紙巾、萊姆和薑汁汽水的推車說，「我是有所防備的」，「我要確定我們有必需品：一些調酒用的飲料、葡萄酒，你知道，這樣如果情況變糟，我還能弄杯酒來喝」。（法新社）

新聞辭典

pandemonium：名詞，大騷動、一片混亂。例句：Many people died during the pandemonium of the riot.（很多人死於這場暴動的大混亂。）

enrage：動詞，激怒。例句：He was enraged at the news about his scandal.（那些有關他醜聞的新聞，令他感到火大。）

guarded：形容詞，謹慎的、有所保留或提防的。例句：She seemed less guarded here.（她在這裡似乎比較沒那麼有戒心。）

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