BEIJING, Feb 24 — Most small businesses in China have yet to reopen and are struggling with supply chain obstructions after the new coronavirus epidemic triggered a national shutdown, officials said today. Authorities extended January’s Lunar New Year holiday and ordered the closure of schools,...
Employees wearing protective face masks work at the Siemens factory where medical equipment is assembled in Shanghai on February 24, 2020. — AFP pic
Authorities extended January’s Lunar New Year holiday and ordered the closure of schools, factories and railways to try and halt the spread of the outbreak, which has killed more than 2,500 people. Ongoing transport disruptions make it hard for workers to travel and has prevented the shipment of raw materials, he added.
Small and medium-sized businesses account for around 60 per cent of China’s economy, and the crucial sector is reeling from the impact of the global public health crisis.
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