US companies suspend China operations, restrict travel as coronavirus outbreak spreads

Disney, McDonald’s, Starbucks and other U.S. companies with significant footprints in China are suspending operations and instituting travel restrictions as they respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The virus has now taken the lives of at least 82 people in China and sickened 2,900 worldwide, including in the U.S. and Europe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Sunday a fifth U.S. case, and President Donald Trump has said the U.S. has offered help to China. U.S. health officials said Monday they are monitoring 110 people across 26 states for the coronavirus, including the five patients who contracted the infection in China and brought it back to the U.S.

In an effort to control the spread of the virus, Chinese authorities have suspended public transportation in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and in at least nine other cities, Reuters reports.

As the virus continues to spread throughout China and across borders, it’s hitting businesses around the world. The municipal government of Shanghai issued a notice Monday ordering companies not to resume work after the Chinese New Year holiday until Feb. 3, instead of Jan. 31. As a result, the Shanghai stock exchange will remain closed until Feb. 3.

All 3 major U.S. indices fell by more than 1% in intra-day trading Monday as investors reacted to the outbreak.

The travel sector is at substantial risk when public health threats like the coronavirus emerge, said CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council Gloria Guevara, who was the tourism minister for Mexico during the H1N1 outbreak.

She said 90% of the economic cost of the outbreak “is not related to the virus. It’s related to the panic,” and it can take between 10 months and 19 months for tourism and spending in an area to fully recover from a local outbreak.