The impact on copper and steel sectors as Hebei announced a "state of wartime"

SHANGHAI, Jan 6 (SMM)—On January 5, 20 new outbreak of coronavirus cases were confirmed in Hebei, along with 43 new local asymptomatic infections, according to the latest data reported by the Hebei Provincial Health Commission.

Hebei Province announced a state of wartime on the evening of January 5. Many expressways in Hebei are closed in order to curb the spread of the virus. The entire Gaocheng District of Shijiazhuang City has been adjusted to a high-risk area. All primary and secondary schools and kindergartens suspend offline education and teaching from January 5.

Copper traders in Shijiazhuang have been required to work from home, and trades were suspended.  Some copper producers in Xingtai suspended production due to transportation restrictions. Businesses at some secondary copper rod producers were affected by lockdown in Ningjin of Xingtai, while copper rod producers in low-risk areas such as Dacheng county have not been affected yet. 

Construction sites in Beijing and its surrounding areas operate normally at present, but they concerned about the pandemic in Shijiazhuang and Xingtai.