Shanghai: 97 percent of large industrial enterprises resume operation

As the spread of the novel coronavirus pneumonia slows down in Shanghai, the city's production and operation in most industries have been gradually restarted, with 97 percent of large-scale industrial enterprises having returned to work, an official said.

"The improved controls and preventions for the COVID-19 epidemic allow us to gradually restore business and work," said Zhang Jianming, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization during a press conference on Monday.

Apart from a few sectors not suitable for resuming business due to the high risks of human-to-human transmission of the disease, most enterprises can get back to business in accordance to the guideline published by the municipal government on Thursday, Zhang said.

As of Sunday, 97 percent of the city's industrial enterprises above designated size have resumed work; that of foreign-funded enterprises is 99.9 percent; that of export companies is 99 percent; that of supermarkets is 98.8 percent; that of shopping malls is 98.9 percent; that of convenience stores is 92.7 percent, and that of logistics is 95.2 percent. All major projects in the city will be relaunched by the end of this month, he added.

The municipal government has offered various supporting measures to aid business resumption, including cutting taxes and fees by more than 11 million yuan ($1,583,759) for privately and individually-owned businesses in a single month, issuing 35.7 billion yuan loans to 3,049 enterprises via commercial banks in Shanghai as of March 3, as well as granting rental cuts or relief to 14,000 small and medium-sized enterprises as of Sunday.

"To date, more than 1,700 companies in Shanghai have donated 1.65 billion yuan through various charity organizations, and more than 230 companies donated 150 million yuan worth of products to hospitals. These companies will enjoy income tax deductions," said Pang Wei, vice-chief of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Local Taxation.

There was no new novel coronavirus pneumonia case confirmed during the 24 hours before noon on Monday by the Shanghai Health Commission.

The city has reported a total of 342 confirmed cases as of noon on Monday, including 15 patients in stable condition, eight in critical condition, one in intensive care, 315 cured and discharged from the hospital, and three deaths.

Currently, there are 24 people under medical quarantine and observation; 10 of them traveled to Shanghai from overseas.