China's Hubei Pushes Orderly Production Restart After President Xi's Visit
Liao Shumin
DATE:  Mar 11 2020
/ SOURCE:  yicai
China's Hubei Pushes Orderly Production Restart After President Xi's Visit China's Hubei Pushes Orderly Production Restart After President Xi's Visit

(Yicai Global) March 11 -- Hubei province said today that it is promoting an orderly return to production and the safe movement of workers within the novel coronavirus-hit region following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit. But the local government added that it will continue to strictly control channels out of the province and its capital Wuhan.

Companies in Wuhan that are vital to tackling the Covid-19 epidemic, public services, people's livelihoods and the national economy can resume operations, the provincial government said in a statement today. Businesses that are key to industry chains can also get back to work after the necessary approvals procedure. Others in the city may not restart before March 20.

Dongfeng Honda Automobile, a Wuhan-based joint venture with Japan's Honda Motor, became the first carmaker to secure approval yesterday for a return to production.

The central province of Hubei has borne the brunt of the coronavirus contagion in China, with over 67,000 cases leading to more than 3,000 deaths. But the rate of transmission has fallen drastically. In a reassuring visit to the region two days ago, Xi said the spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan.

Still, movie theaters, amusement centers, bookstores, internet cafes, bars, gyms, training centers, restaurants and other businesses that are on the restricted list cannot restart even in low-risk areas until the epidemic is over, the provincial government's statement said.

The authorities classify areas into low-, mid- and high-risk and use differentiated prevention and control management accordingly, it added.

People in mid- and low-risk areas can travel in an orderly manner within the province. Workers in Wuhan and other high-risk areas can use the 'point-to-point' mode of transport within the province.

Transport in mid- and low-risk areas in the province is recovering gradually. But journeys by plane, train, bus, and ship as well as urban public transport in Wuhan and high-risk areas remain suspended. Hubei's colleges, schools, and kindergartens will also continue to stay closed.

Editor: Peter Thomas

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Keywords:   Hubei,Wuhan,novel coronavirus