A number of enterprises in the service industry in Gangzha district, Nantong, Jiangsu province have resumed work since Feb 18, when the first local stores were permitted to resume operations amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

A hardware store in Gangzha district opened at 10 am on Feb 18 and received a customer that very day, who wished to have a key made. The store owner took the customer's temperature and registered her information in accordance with regulations.

The district is currently home to over 8,000 commercial enterprises. Fourteen enterprises were permitted to resume operations on Feb 9, and more enterprises are currently going through the approval process.

The approval process for service enterprises involved in information technology, technical research and development, consultation, and more started on Feb 17.

By Feb 19, a total of 773 enterprises involved in the service industry in Gangzha district had resumed operations, including 289 enterprises above designated size, which refers to industrial enterprises with annual main business revenue of 20 million yuan ($2.84 million) or more.

In the first quarter of this year, the taxable sales value of the service industry in Gangzha district is expected to reach 16 billion yuan, and total retail sales of consumer goods are expected to exceed 2.6 billion yuan, according to an official from the district's bureau of commerce.

The owner of a hardware store in Gangzha district, Nantong takes a consumer's temperature before making a key for her. [Photo/ntfabu.com]