Virus outbreak cost China 1 trillion yuan loss in Chinese New Year week

A security officer wearing a face mask gives stands in a shopping mall with a number of stores that remained closed in Beijing on Feb. 3, 2020. Most businesses have been seriously hit by the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. - AP

BEIJING: China’s coronavirus outbreak cost more than 1 trillion yuan (RM590bil) in losses to the restaurant, tourism and movie industries in first seven days of the Lunar New Year, according to a report by Caixin Global.

The coronavirus, which has killed 362 people and infected more than 17,300 people as of Feb 2, has brought large parts of the country to a standstill.