Chinese officials have urged key industries, such as aviation, to resume operations as soon as possible.

However, many companies, especially those with a large workforce, do not reopen today, due to concerns about the spread of the disease.

A store employee in Beijing cleans shelves.

Foxconn – the world’s largest on-demand electronics assembler – will also not open its factory in Zhengzhou today.

According to Chinese officials, to date, the number of deaths from nCoV has surpassed the SARS pandemic in 2003. This virus is shaking the global economy, causing turmoil in financial markets and increasing pressure on the supply chain.

The epidemic could also shatter Beijing’s expectations that it could set a growth target of 6% this year.

Even the previous SARS epidemic did not cause Chinese businesses to close for as long as they are now.

A tire factory worker in Heilongjiang said his company had reopened after Tet.

The country’s schools remain closed today.

Restaurants also suffered the same fate.