China’s Factories at Risk of Double Whammy as Coronavirus Hits South Korea, Japan

A worker wearing a face mask is seen during a government-organized tour of the Mengniu Dairy factory in Beijing as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, China, on Feb. 27, 2020. Thomas Peter/Reuters

BEIJING—The spread of the coronavirus in South Korea and Japan could mean a second wave of disruption at Chinese factories after the disease triggered a record contraction in activity last month.

Cases of the flu-like outbreak have jumped in South Korea and Japan, prompting some manufacturers there to partially suspend operations and risking a reduction in the supply of spare parts to factories in China as they restart work.