People wearing face masks following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walk on a street in Shanghai, China, December 14, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song SHANGHAI, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Multiple companies have suspended operations in one of China’s biggest manufacturing hubs as local authorities try to contain a COVID-19 outbreak, halting production of goods from batteries to textile dyes and plastics. At least 20 listed companies have shut operations in virus-hit areas in Zhejiang, an eastern province with a large industrial sector that accounts for around 6% of China’s GDP and where many goods are manufactured for export. Tens of thousands of Zhejiang residents are in quarantine and some domestic flights have been suspended as a national health official said the outbreak in three cities – Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou – was developing at a “relatively rapid” speed. read more The three cities accounted for more than 50% of the province’s […]