Dongguan supports those affected by COVID

Dongguan, Guangdong province, has introduced a series of preferential policies to help bail out local businesses and residents experiencing difficulty in the latest COVID-19 outbreak.

The city issued a notice on Wednesday to local banks and financial institutions encouraging them to open green channels and further simplify procedures for local townships, subdistricts, companies and related organizations and units to apply for special loans to help fight the pandemic.

Affected enterprises, industrial zones, townships and subdistricts will be supported with interest rate discounts to ease the difficulties brought by the coronavirus, the notice said.

Meanwhile, such entities in areas struck hard by COVID-19 will enjoy rent reductions, while local companies and residents can be allowed to delay payment of water, electricity and gas charges and personal social insurance for three months.

The new policies and measures that took effect immediately on Thursday, will remain in place until June 16, the notice said.

In Shenzhen, local banks and financial institutions have also been urged to strengthen their policy support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the city government said in a notice on Thursday.

In Guangdong, Dongguan, a major manufacturing base, and Shenzhen, a tech hub, are being hit hard by the recent resurgence of COVID-19.

The Guangdong Health Commission said the province reported 83 locally transmitted cases and 70 asymptomatic carriers on Wednesday.

Of those, 71 confirmed cases and 20 asymptomatic carriers were detected in Shenzhen, while Dongguan reported seven patients and 45 asymptomatic carriers. A few other cases were found elsewhere.

To help stamp out the outbreaks, some businesses and residential communities in the two cities have been suspended or sealed for stricter management.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn