The Lunar New Year is over and the authorities are interested in restarting the Chinese economic engine. Despite their exhortations, the initial response — even in areas not significantly impacted by the coronavirus 2019-nCov, people are not flocking back to their jobs.

See this article from the Washington Post, Despite China’s appeal for a return to work, it’s business as unusual in Beijing.

I think it will take the number of new coronavirus cases dropping — or the length of time people feel they can be absent from their jobs, before there is a significant return of the workforce in urban areas. 

As noted in other blog posts, when trust is low, you can't overcome a perception with just words.