To prevent Covid-19 from further spreading, the Chinese government is using every measure to keep people at home and from gathering. It has extended the Lunar New Year holiday so that factories and offices would be kept closed, and shut down parks, temples and other tourist sites where crowds may form. Group tours are canceled, and business trips put off. City residents who want to exit the housing estate they live in have to wear masks and show emergency passports to the doormen.

为防止新型冠状病毒传播，中国政府正想方设法减少人群出行和聚集。中国延长了春节假期，推迟工厂和公司复工，关闭公园、寺庙等人流较大的景点。同时，旅行社取消出团，商务人士推迟出差，居民出门必须戴上口罩，并向小区保安出示临时通行证。

Since it is almost March now, and school and businesses cannot be put off forever, the government is telling companies to function by phones and mails and schools to give online classes, as far as they are able to.

现在已经临近三月，考虑到学校和企业都不能无休止地停业，政府要求在条件允许的范围内，公司尽可能通过电话、邮件远程办公，学校通过网课方式进行线上教学。

Cities are free from chaos these days. Many have barely set foot outdoors for three weeks. Aside from grocery stores and emergency facilities, virtually nothing is open. Streets and public transportation are almost empty. A subway ride will make one feel like the city’s infrastructure existed just for him.

往日喧嚣的城市显得异常安静。三个星期以来许多人几乎足不出户。除了日用商店和应急设施以外，商铺和机构大多歇业。街上鲜有行人，公共交通也鲜有乘客。乘在冷冷清清的地铁上，甚至会让人产生全部设施为我一人所用的错觉。

Despite the lack of public life, there is tranquility and hope.

尽管公共生活少了，但人们依然怀有宁静和希望。

So far members affected by the stay-at-home order are finding it acceptable. They have a variety of digital tools to facilitate telecommute, and advanced grocery delivery services that provide them with food and daily necessities. On the other hand, they now have less fatigue from all the back and off between home and schools/offices and more time to spend with their families.

迄今为止，民众对于宅家生活并无不满。因为各种电子设备使人们能够方便地进行远程办公，而依靠完善的配送服务，也不愁没有食物和生活用品。另一方面，宅家生活免去了通勤的疲惫，人们还得以省下更多时间与家人相处。

Although a return to normal isn’t yet in sight, the Chinese have faith that they will finally bring the virus under control. They view staying at home as one of the steps they are willing to take in combating it.

尽管距离一切恢复常态还需要时间，中国人民有信心最终战胜病毒，而闭门不出正是这场“战役”的重要一环。

telecommute: n. 远程办公

fatigue: n. 疲劳

tranquility: n.宁静 

combat: v. 与……搏斗