[ti:Rio’s State of Emergency Closes Christ Statue] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]The Christ the Redeemer statue has sat on top of Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro for nearly 90 years. [00:09.44]Almost 90 million people visited the nearly 40-meter high statue last year. [00:17.44]Now, it is being forced to close, at least temporarily. [00:23.44]The reason: the coronavirus outbreak. [00:27.72]The Christ the Redeemer statue closed at day's end on Tuesday and will not reopen for at least a week. [00:37.76]Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute ordered the closure of all national parks it oversees [00:44.56]to fight coronavirus and COVID-19, the name of the disease caused by the virus. [00:53.72]On Tuesday, Rio's governor, Wilson Witzel, declared a state of emergency. [01:01.16]Just one day earlier, the city's famous coastline was filled with people. [01:08.36]Now the beaches are empty. [01:11.92]Witzel's declaration calls on restaurants and bars to limit themselves to 30 percent capacity for 15 days. [01:22.40]Boats and buses are to cut their passenger loads in half. [01:28.28]Brazilians are being told to avoid beaches and swimming in public places. [01:35.80]The declaration also suspended classes and all other activities and events that involve gatherings. [01:45.60]"We are afraid, we feel unsafe," said Maurilivia Gomes, who was visiting Rio from Goias state. [01:54.12]She spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday from inside a near-empty train to the top of the statue. [02:03.08]"We're taking the necessary measures. And we're also going to enjoy what we can," she added. [02:10.92]Brazil has recorded almost 300 confirmed cases of Covid-19. [02:18.32]More than 50 percent are in Sao Paulo, followed by Rio, notes the health ministry. [02:25.12]Across the country, some local government leaders have announced steps aimed at preventing the spread of the virus. [02:34.04]Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has warned the measures could damage the economy. [02:41.44]He expressed skepticism of the virus' severity. [02:47.00]He told one radio station, "What is incorrect is the hysteria, as though it were the end of the world. [02:55.68]A nation like Brazil, for example, will only be free when a certain number of people are infected and create antibodies." . [03:06.08]People who work in the tourism industry are worried about their jobs. [03:12.60]"We have to count on the hope that we can find a family that wants to walk around and do something at least, [03:20.08]so we can earn something this month," noted Alexandre Faria Carbonelli. [03:25.88]He spoke to The Associated Press. [03:29.80]At the Christ statue, Rio's Catholic Church is planning a light show for Wednesday night. [03:37.88]It will show the flags of nations fighting coronavirus on the lonely statue. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM