Many businesses across China are set to remain closed on Monday, despite the government’s ef
China’s State Council has urged critical industries — such as aviation — to resume operations as soon as possible, and most provinces have asked local businesses to reopen on Monday following an emergency 10-day extension to the annual Lunar New Year holiday.
Many cities, led by Beijing and Shanghai, are encouraging people to work from home, while some of China’s biggest technology companies, such as Alibaba and Meituan, have extended the holiday break to February 16 or later.
Foxconn, China’s largest employer and Apple contractor, will not resume production at its iPhone production plant in Zhengzhou, Henan province.
Some regions, including Heilongjiang province in northeastern China, have told employers to extend the holiday break by another two weeks.
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According to one worker at a tyre factory in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, his company had recently resumed operations but was forced to close after two employees were diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Schools will also not be reopening on Monday. Nearly all provinces have delayed resuming classes at primary and secondary schools until February 16 at the earliest. Some major regions — such as the coastal economic powerhouses of Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong — have ordered schools to close for the rest of the month.
Many restaurants will also remain closed.
