Colonial-era laws are usually outdated pieces of legislation, often out of tune with current realities. But India has fallen back on using a 123-year-old British colonial-era law, first implemented in 1897 to control the spread of bubonic plague, to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
殖民时期的法律一般都是过时的，不适合现代社会。但印度重启了123年前的英国殖民时期的法律来控制新冠病毒的传播，这部法律最初在1897年颁布时是为了控制黑死病的传播。

The government has asked states to enforce the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 to help the authorities stem the outbreak of Covid-19 in India and better implement various health advisories.
印度政府要求各邦强制执行1897年的《流行病法案》，来帮助当局遏制新冠病毒在该国的传播，以及更好地实施各种健康建议。

The Act gives authorities wide powers to curb the spread of "dangerous epidemic diseases", including setting up containment areas and preventing people from entering or leaving containment facilities.
该法案赋予当局广泛的权利来控制“危险流行病”的传播，其中包括建立隔离区，禁止人们进入或离开防护设施。

"This (Act) is being invoked to ensure that no one can flee without completing treatment (in quarantine facilities). We will use it in the interest of public health and safety," West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee told reporters on March 17.
西孟加拉邦首席部长玛玛塔·班纳吉在3月17日对记者说：“我们正在执行该法案来确保没有人能在（隔离设施里）未完成治疗就离开。我们将利用该法案来使公共健康和安全得到保障。”

It also allows the inspection of people travelling by railway or other modes of transport, and authorises inspection of any ships or vessels.
法案也允许当局对火车或其他交通工具的乘客进行检查，并授权当局对所有船只或轮船进行检查。

It carries a maximum of six months' punishment for a range of violations, including disobeying quarantine orders and creating panic.
法案规定对各种违规行为，包括不遵守隔离命令和制造恐慌，可处以最高六个月的刑罚。

India, the world's second most-populous country, has taken strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
印度是世界人口第二大国，已经采取了严厉的措施来控制疫情发展。

An outbreak would prove disastrous for the country, which has an uneven health infrastructure and a high population density, particularly in urban areas.
对该国来说疫情爆发是灾难性的，该国基础卫生设施分布不均，人口密度高，城市内尤为严重。

 

翻译：菲菲