BMW increases holidays for Chinese production workers

German luxury automaker BMW will increase its factory holidays at its plants in Shenyang, China, by one week until February 9 due to travel restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus, a company spokesman stated on Thursday.

The measure applies to employees in production, the spokesman added. Office workers will get back to working on February 3, but from home.

The move comes as regional governments have extended Lunar New year holidays to rein in a coronavirus that has infected thousands and killed over 170 people in China.