Small, mostly private companies that are the engine of China’s economy are back to operating at one-third of normal levels after anti-virus controls shut factories, shops, and restaurants, regulators said Thursday, and they promised more low-cost loans and other aid. The ruling Communist Party has ordered areas that are at lower disease risk to revive manufacturing and other businesses that have been shut for a month. That comes at a time when outbreaks in South Korea, Italy, and Iran are leading to travel bans and other controls abroad. At a news conference, officials expressed confidence China’s 18 million small and medium-size enterprises are recovering quickly. The category includes most of the privately-owned restaurants, factories, stores and other companies that generate its new jobs and wealth. Activity overall is back to 33% of normal levels, while manufacturing reached 43%, said an official of the Cabinet’s planning […]