The government invited reporters to a
The ruling party is striving to restore public and business confidence and avert a deeper economic downturn and politically risky job losses after weeks of disruptions due to the viral outbreak that has sickened more than 82,000 people worldwide and killed more than 2,800.
Mengniu's sales fell 20% in February due to travel and other anti-disease controls, but its sales of milk, yoghurt and other dairy products are back to 80% of normal levels and production is at 70%, said Meng Fanjie, of Mengniu's
"Also there is an opportunity brought by the virus outbreak," he said. “People want to improve immunity by eating more dairy.”
The effort to get the economy back on track comes as anxiety is mounting that the spread of the new virus overseas might derail global trade, industry and economic growth. Forecasters expect the economy to slow in the current quarter, though though officials insist the ruling
The most sweeping anti-disease controls ever imposed suspended most access to
Tourism plunged after authorities canceled group tours and told businesspeople to avoid travel. Sales of real estate and autos evaporated.
President
When Mengniu's shipments were suspended in
During the tour in
Dairy employees are checked for fever before putting on white gowns, hair nets and blue plastic gloves and beginning work.
Under a photo of Xi visiting the dairy, visitors spin in place to be sprayed with disinfectant.
Delivery trucks are disinfected every four hours. GPS devices allow the dairy to keep track of where drivers go. Banners hanging from the trucks said: “The truck is disinfected. The driver’s body temperature is normal.”
At a news conference Thursday, officials expressed confidence the small, mostly private companies that power
That category includes most of the privately-owned restaurants, factories, stores and other companies that generate
Zhang Kejian, an official of
Activity is increasing gradually, he said.
“Many companies want to resume work as soon as possible,” said Zhang. “But they also worry about risks due to the spread of the epidemic. There is a dilemma.”
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