壞掉的車停在路旁，商店大門被破壞，人們拿著手槍，爭先恐後搶藥搶糧，遠處傳出呼叫聲。這是電影《末日之戰》（World War Z）情節。人的想像力豐富，假新聞看多了，心中所想，和現實有很大落差。封城後的紐約市，僅僅是安靜了許多。
居民賺少了錢，政府可以提供紓困攏絡人心；染了病毒，就很難力挽狂瀾。亞洲人特別不滿紐約政府輕視疫情，由零確診到全美疫症大爆發，只用了20天，怨氣來不及發泄，就被封城了。
紐約市3月初確診首名病人時，西雅圖已成為武漢第二。記者不少在醫院工作的朋友，當時還飛到不同城市參加學術會議，院方上周才建議暫停出差。院內工作、不用上前線的，管理層隻字不提防疫指引，直至封城前，才施捨一個外科口罩，建議好好保管，方便重用。電台節目內，每天有醫護人員家屬致電投訴，醫院缺乏防護設備，危害人命。
官僚主義讓美國醫療系統崩壞，尚可修補，無視疫情的樂觀主義，則教人哭笑不得。截至周二，紐約市超過1.5萬人確診，131人喪命，市政府繼續呼籲口罩非必需，有病便留在家中，除非病情嚴重，否則不要到醫院（也不用檢測）。州長無知地說，「很多人將會染病毒，但很少人會命危（Many people will get the virus, but few will be truly endangered）。」
網路上，最引起熱烈討論的，是紐約市衛生部門發出、長達兩頁《性愛與武漢肺炎》（Sex and Coronavirus Disease 2019）指引。以下全文轉載，畢竟口罩可以不戴，愛還是要做。
鄭柏齡
駐紐約記者
電郵：ballcpl@appledaily.us
Sex and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 《性愛與武漢肺炎》
All New Yorkers should stay home and minimize contact with others to reduce the spread of COVID-19. But can you have sex? Here are some tips for how to enjoy sex and to avoid spreading COVID-19. （所有紐約人都應留在家中，儘量減少與他人的接觸，減少武漢肺炎傳播。但，還可以有性生活嗎？以下是一些有關如何享受性愛和避免傳播武漢肺炎的提示。）
1. Know how COVID-19 spreads. （了解武漢肺炎的傳播途徑）
• You can get COVID-19 from a person who has it. （你可能從武漢肺炎患者身上感染病毒）
o The virus can spread to people who are within about 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 when that person coughs or sneezes. （武漢肺炎病毒可透過患者咳嗽或打噴嚏時的飛沫，傳播至大約6尺範圍內）
o The virus can spread through direct contact with their saliva or mucus. （武漢肺炎病毒可透過口水或其他體液傳播）
• We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 and sex. （關於武漢肺炎病毒及性愛，仍有很多未知之數）
o COVID-19 has been found in feces of people who are infected with the virus. （武漢肺炎患者糞便亦含有病毒）
o COVID-19 has not yet been found in semen or vaginal fluid. （暫時未曾在精液或陰道分泌物中檢驗出武漢肺炎病毒）
o We know that other coronaviruses do not efficiently transmit through sex.
（其他冠狀病毒不能通過性交傳播）
2. Have sex with people close to you. （跟親密接觸者性交）
• You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex. （你是你本人最安全的性伴侶。自慰不會傳播武漢肺炎，特別是當你在事前及事後，以肥皂及清水清潔雙手或性玩具最少20秒）
• The next safest partner is someone you live with. Having close contact — including sex — with only a small circle of people helps prevent spreading COVID-19.（下一個安全的性伴侶是一位與你同住的人。只與少數人有親密接觸 — 包括性交 — 能有效阻止武漢肺炎蔓延）
• You should avoid close contact — including sex — with anyone outside your household. If you do have sex with others, have as few partners as possible. （你應該避免與同住者以外的人有親密接觸，包括性交。如你與其他人有性行為，應盡量減少性伴侶人數）
• If you usually meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex, consider taking a break from in-person dates. Video dates, sexting or chat rooms may be options for you. （如你一般是在網上結識性伴侶或以性交易維持生計，可考慮暫定親身赴會。你可選擇改為視像約會、短訊談情或網上聊天室。）
3. Take care during sex. （安全地進行性行為）
• Kissing can easily pass COVID-19. Avoid kissing anyone who is not part of your small circle of close contacts. （武漢肺炎病毒容易透過親吻傳播。避免親吻親密接觸者以外的人）
• Rimming (mouth on anus) might spread COVID-19. Virus in feces may enter your mouth. （嘴巴接近肛門或能傳播武漢肺炎。在冀便中的病毒或進入口腔）
• Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact with saliva or feces, especially during oral or anal sex. （避孕套及嘴部膠膜能減少接觸到唾液或冀便的機會）
• Washing up before and after sex is more important than ever. （性交前後清潔極為重要）
o Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. （以肥皂及清水清潔雙手最少20秒）
o Wash sex toys with soap and warm water. （以肥皂及清水清潔性玩具最少20秒）
o Disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others (for video chat, for watching pornography or for anything else). （如共用鍵盤及觸控式螢幕，就應進行消毒）
4. Skip sex if you or your partner is not feeling well. （如伴侶身體不適，就不應進行性行為）
• If you or a partner may have COVID-19, avoid sex and especially kissing. （如你或你的伴侶疑似感染武漢肺炎，就要避免進行性行為，尤其不應接吻）
• If you start to feel unwell, you may be about to develop symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. （如你覺得不適，或會開始出現武漢肺炎病徵，包括發燒、咳嗽、喉嚨痛或氣促）
• If you or your partner has a medical condition that can lead to more severe COVID-19, you may also want to skip sex. Medical conditions include lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system (for example, having unsuppressed HIV and a low CD4 count). （如你或你的伴侶的身體狀況會引致嚴重武漢肺炎，你應考慮暫停性行為。上述身體狀況包括肺病、心臟病、糖尿病、癌症或免疫系統較差等。）
5. Prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy.（預防愛滋病、性病及意外懷孕）
• HIV: Condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and having an undetectable viral load all help prevent HIV. For more information, visit nyc.gov/health and search HIV. （愛滋病：使用避孕套、暴露前預防藥物、保持病毒數量達致不可檢測(Undetectable Viral Load)狀態，都能有效預防愛滋病 ）
• Other STIs: Condoms help prevent other STIs. Visit nyc.gov/health and search STIs. （其他性病：使用避孕套能有效預防其他性病）
• Pregnancy: Make sure you have an effective form of birth control for the coming weeks. Visit nyc.gov/health and search birth control. （懷孕：確保未來數星期都有採取有效避孕措施）
For more information about COVID-19, visit nyc.gov/coronavirus. （上述資訊點閱網址）
*The NYC Health Department may change recommendations as the situation evolves.
