(Yicai Global) Jan. 27 -- Various companies in the Shanghai area will resume work no earlier than midnight on Feb. 9, and schools at all levels will not open before Feb.17 following China's weeklong Spring Festival break, city officials announced today on China's Twitter-like Weibo.

Jan. 31 was the date originally scheduled for a return to the daily grind, and is still the one in effect for the public services sector, such as energy supply, telecommunications, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, and food production and supply.

The order covers all of the eastern megacity's colleges, universities, primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.

Editor: Ben Armour