Here's how a selection of multinational brands are responding to the epidemic, which has forced many companies to stay shut until at least Feb 10 after China extended its Lunar New Year holidays.The travel sector is most directly affected by China's decision to quarantine dozens of cities and ban overseas tour groups, in a bid to contain the outbreak. Other countries have told their nationals to avoid travel to China and banned arrivals from there.
Casinos in Macau, normally a playground for the rich and the hopeful from mainland China, have closed their doors. So have Disney theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. For its part, Apple is working on"mitigation plans" to make up for any production loss from its suppliers in China. The extended holidays have limited the immediate impact on their production in Wuhan itself, but concerns are growing about spillover effects, including on auto suppliers around China.
Fast-food giant McDonald's has closed all of its"several hundred" restaurants in Hubei, the province of Wuhan, but some 3,000 others in China remain open. Nike warned of a"material impact" on operations in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The sports apparel and footwear giant has closed about half its stores in China and experienced a drop in retail traffic at those still open.