(Yicai Global) Feb. 10 -- Some Chinese tech companies, including Tencent Holdings, Meituan Dianping, and ByteDance, have recommended their employees to continue working from home for as long as three more weeks amid the new coronavirus outbreak. 

ByteDance suggested that those currently staying outside Beijing should go back to the capital city between Feb. 12 and Feb. 16 for a self-imposed 14-day home quarantine and then get back to the office on March 1, news website Jiemian reported today, citing the Beijing-headquartered owner of TikTok video platform.

However, most of the country's tech firms have asked their employees to return to their desks today after working remotely for a week or so after the prolonged Chinese New Year holiday ended. Over that time, many stores and restaurants remained closed amid nationwide efforts to contain the virus, causing major losses in the retail sector.

Baidu, group-buying platform Meituan Dianping, video firms Kuaishou Technology, and DouYu International Holdings, as well as convenience store chain Bianlifeng have tentatively allowed employees to work from home till the end of this week. Tencent extended that period till Feb. 23. 

Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi, and video platform owner iQiyi encouraged their staff to get back to their usual working locales on Feb. 3.

Editor: Emmi Laine