Xiamen in East China's Fujian province has beefed up efforts to promote production resumption by enterprises amid the novel coronavirus epidemic, Huang Qiang, the city's vice-mayor, said at a news conference on prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic in Fuzhou Feb 19.

Huang said that Xiamen led the province in work resumption, with many indicators ranking first in Fujian. By Feb 18, 91 percent of companies above designated size in Xiamen had resumed production.

According to Huang, the Xiamen government had rolled out a series of targeted interim policies to help firms cope with difficulties, ensuring coordination in production and employment. Measures have been taken to address four problems in resuming work and production.

The government encouraged workers to return to work by providing chartered buses and various transport subsidies.

Communities were not allowed to block entries indiscriminately, making sure that returning workers had no troubles going home. Also, the government allocated 9,379 vacant rooms and encouraged enterprises to set up temporary houses for those who have accommodation problems.

In addition, it strengthened prevention and control at workplaces. Enterprises were required to precisely implement classified management to different workers. It also provided nucleic acid tests for the presence of the virus for companies in need.

Last, while making use of existing policies, it issued 15 preferential policies and 28 financial assistance measures for enterprises. 

By Feb 15, banks in Xiamen had granted 9.9 billion yuan ($1.41 billion) in credit for enterprises related to epidemic prevention and control and people's livelihoods, and helped 172 small and micro businesses in distress.

The city also offered legal advisers to resolve companies' legal disputes, and gave permits to transport enterprises to ensure the timely supply and smooth transport of urgently needed goods and materials.