Economics

At Least Two-Thirds of China Economy to Stay Shut Next Week

A woman carrying a laptop and smartphone crosses a near empty Nanjing Road, Jan. 29.Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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More than a dozen Chinese provinces announced an extension of the current Lunar New Year holiday by more than a week as the nation attempts to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus that has killed hundreds of people and sickened thousands.

Fourteen provinces and cities have said businesses need not start operations until at least the second week of February. They accounted for almost 69% of China’s gross domestic product in 2019, according to Bloomberg calculations.