The Commerce Department of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region issued the Ten Measures to Support Epidemic Prevention and Control and Promote the Stable Operation of the Retail and Catering Industry to help related enterprises resume work.

For retail and catering companies above designated size that are facing difficulties in work resumption, Guangxi will implement precise support through one-to-one services to assist enterprises in resolving practical difficulties, such as labor and material supply shortages.

The medical materials for catering and retail companies for their novel coronavirus epidemic prevention and control efforts will be included in the region's overall planning and allocated in batches. A subsidy of up to 30 percent on the purchase of disposable masks from February to March will be given to retail and catering enterprises above designated size.

Financing support for retail and catering companies will be increased. Financial institutions may extend or renew loans, as well as appropriately lower loan interest rates to enterprises that have already received financing. For retail and catering companies that have been greatly affected by the epidemic, new loans from Jan 1 to June 30 will give a half-year financial discount for loans of no more than 2 million yuan ($287,985.26).

For supermarkets and catering companies above designated size that provide online ordering and contactless delivery, the delivery costs from February to March will be subsidized at a rate not exceeding 30 percent. Catering and retail companies are also encouraged to provide meal delivery service and to hire shared employees to ease the workforce crunch.

Urban commercial complexes, pedestrian streets, and community convenience stores will also return to normal to meet people's daily needs.