Travel Warnings, Caterpillar Gloom, Car Output: Virus Impact
- Two-thirds of China economy to stay shut on extended break
- Japan and U.S. tell their citizens to avoid travel to China
Tourists and commuters in Bangkok on Jan. 28.
Photographer: Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images
The number of Chinese provinces that will stay shut for another week has widened as China tries to contain a coronavirus outbreak. At least two-thirds of the economy is now on extended idling, including regions that are home to a newly-built Tesla Inc. plant, Nike Inc. factory and a large Foxconn plant that makes Apple Inc. iPhones.
Caterpillar Inc., a worldwide barometer for manufacturing, provided a downcast outlook for 2020 on Friday, adding it is monitoring the virus closely. Automakers probably will dial back production by 15% in China this quarter due to the extended holiday shutdowns, a top supplier said. Japanese cosmestics maker Kose Corp. also cut its forecast, citing a drop in Chinese tourists.