China to step up financial support for epidemic control

BEIJING -- The central fiscal authorities have urged greater efforts to finance the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The most urgent work for fiscal authorities at all levels is to increase financial input and roll out favorable policies to support epidemic control, said Finance Minister Liu Kun in a written article published on Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

As of 9:00 pm Feb 12, China has allocated a total of 78.53 billion yuan (about $11.3 billion) of fiscal funds to support the control of the epidemic, according to Liu.

Supportive measures, including subsidies for medical personnel and tax incentives to manufacturers of epidemic prevention and control materials, should be well implemented, said Liu.

Liu stressed that supervision should be strengthened to ensure those in need get the funds.