Shenzhen Firms To Resume Work 'gradually'

Companies in Shenzhen, that halted operations under the city-wide lockdown imposed on Sunday to tackle rising Covid-19 cases, will be allowed to resume work and production gradually by area and industry type, a local government official said on Thursday.

"On condition that the epidemic prevention and control work is done well, enterprises will resume production in an orderly way based on region and category," said Huang Qiang, deputy-secretary general of the Shenzhen municipal government, at a news briefing, without providing details or a specific timeline.

"We should be aware that the new daily case numbers so far still remained relatively high," he added. "There must be no loosening or slacking in virus control and prevention work."

The National Health Commission on Thursday reported 71 locally-transmitted Covid-19 infections in Shenzhen, up from 55 on Wednesday.

Shenzhen also reported 20 asymptomatic cases.

The technology powerhouse, bordering Hong Kong, plans to test all of its more than 17 million residents three times during March 14-17. It has also suspended buses and subways as well as all non-essential economic activity in a week-long containment programme it described as "slow living".

Supermarkets, pharmacies and medical institutions were among the only businesses allowed to open.

Major firms in the city are already feeling the effects. Apple Inc supplier Foxconn plans to put its Shenzhen campus in a Covid-19 "bubble" that will allow it to resume production until at least Sunday, according to an internal document seen by Reuters.

Logistics company United Parcel Service Inc also suspended all pickup, delivery and self pickup services in Shenzhen and neighbouring Dongguan after strict restrictions were imposed to curb the outbreak. (Reuters)