Xi'an invests 307m yuan in coronavirus prevention, control

In a move to ensure that actions taken against the coronavirus will not be affected due to funding issues, city officials said that on Feb 1, Xi'an in northwestern Shaanxi province allocated 307 million yuan ($44.26 million) in special funds for epidemic prevention and control.

After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Xi'an bureau of finance promptly introduced targeted prevention and control funding measures and arranged local financial subsidies for confirmed and suspected patients.

Officials said that the personal burden for the medical expenses of confirmed and suspected patients -- in addition to basic medical insurance, critical illness insurance and medical assistance -- will be handled by the city’s financial departments.

They added that the city is also protecting the rights and interests of medical staff who work in the prevention and treatment of the coronavirus.

Medical staff infected with the virus or dying due to the infection shall be deemed to have been injured at work and shall enjoy the benefits of work injury insurance, according to the law. Those who have not taken out work injury insurance shall be paid by their employer.

Officials said that Xi'an has also established a fast track channel for government procurements and has simplified the procurement approval process for materials and improved overall work efficiency, to provide a strong financial guarantee in the fight against the epidemic.