Tesla and its suppliers have been falling sick in the current wave of infections in China, posing challenges to operations at the plant

At least 37 million people caught the virus on Tuesday alone, according to data presented in a closed-door meeting

China's "closed loop" system, which had been relied on by many factories throughout the zero-Covid era, is also beginning to fall apart

"China's growth outlook is subject to significant risks, stemming from the uncertain trajectory of the pandemic," the World Bank said

The survey suggests that the Chinese economy "may be heading for recession in 2023," World Economics said

Immigration queries from China have been on the rise this year as stringent zero-Covid curbs and a steep fall in property prices have chipped away riches from the wealthy

Analysts say China is ill-prepared for a fresh wave of infections, with little exposure to a disease kept largely in check until now

Cities that were already battling their most severe outbreaks saw a sharp decrease in economic activity after rules such as regular testing were scrapped

The announcement comes after reports last month that the Taiwan-based manufacturer plans to quadruple the workforce at its iPhone factory in India

Beijing's loosening of rules that have hobbled the world's second largest economy is being seen as the strongest sign yet that China is preparing its 1.4 billion people to live with the disease

The bleak data also underlined the impact of fresh Covid restrictions across many Chinese cities including manufacturing hubs Zhengzhou and Guangzhou

Analysts predict China may now re-open the economy and drop border controls sooner than expected next year, with some seeing it fully open in spring