As China goes back to work after Lunar New Year, will the coronavirus spread even more rapidly?
- Most provinces and regions told businesses to remain closed, but in some parts of the country they reopened on Monday
- After lockdowns and quarantines were enforced during the holiday season to contain the spread of infections, a return to normality will raise fresh fears
Authorities extended the Spring Festival break – initially set to run from January 24 to 30 – by three days, until Sunday, in an attempt to help contain the virus.
But at least 24 of China’s 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including Beijing and Shanghai, have told businesses not to reopen before February 10 at the earliest. Most organisations except those serving daily needs, such as utility companies, and medical equipment and pharmaceutical firms, remained closed.
Suzhou, a manufacturing hub in eastern China, had postponed the return to work until at least February 8 before the government’s announcement last week.
Cherry Yang, 30, started working from home in Shanghai this week after returning from Lanzhou in Gansu province, in the country’s northwest, on Friday.
