Haimen, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, rolled out a series of measures on Feb 13 to help local companies get through the ongoing virus outbreak, which has affected many businesses. 

The following 12 measures will be in effect until June 30, 2020: 

1. Increasing credit supply for companies. Financial institutions are encouraged to loosen restrictions on taking out and repaying loans, and to defer or renew loans for businesses having difficulty repaying. 

2. Cutting financing costs for companies. The government will work to ensure that financing costs for small and medium-sized companies are lower than in the same period in 2019. 

3. Improving re-lending services. Financial institutions are encouraged to offer re-lending services to companies. For re-lending programs conducted during the first half of 2020 with a period of more than six months, the government will offer a subsidy equal to 0.01 percent of the re-lending amount to institutions.  

4. Deferring tax payments. Companies that are unable to declare taxes because of the novel coronavirus epidemic can apply for deferrals in accordance with the law. Those who cannot pay taxes in time can apply for tax payment deferrals in accordance with the law, but the deferral period cannot exceed 3 months. Those that have suffered great losses from the epidemic and are having difficulties paying real estate taxes or urban land use taxes can apply for reductions and exemption of those taxes. Those who need to pay a fixed amount in taxes can report to the tax authorities i and apply for an adjustment of the amount. 

5. Deferring social security payments. Small and medium-sized companies affected by the epidemic can defer payments of unemployment insurance and employment injury insurance for up to six months. Companies who do not cut jobs will receive a refund equal to 50 percent of the unemployment insurance they paid in the previous year. 

6. Handing out subsidies in advance. The local sci-tech, commerce, and development and reform departments plan to hand out special subsidies to companies before May to relieve financial pressure. 

7. Reducing rents for companies. The government will offer subsidies to property owners who reduce rents for supermarkets, wholesale markets, and agricultural product markets. Companies who rent State-own property will be exempt from rent in February and March. 

8. Strengthening support for sci-tech research. The government will offer subsidies to key sci-tech projects that will help curb the novel coronavirus pneumonia, such as those involving medical treatment, testing, medicine, and protection equipment. The amount will be 200,000 yuan ($28,640) for each project. 

9. Helping companies resume operations. The government will help companies solve a variety of problems related to shortages in protective materials, raw materials, and logistics. Relevant departments will also strictly monitor companies' efforts to prevent and control infection. 

10. Reducing companies' losses in overseas markets. For companies unable to keep appointments to attend overseas economic fairs and exhibitions, the government will offer subsidies of up to 50 percent of related expenses. Companies who failed to honor their international trade contracts due to the outbreak can apply for force majeure certificates to minimize their losses. 

11. Strengthening workforce supply for companies. The government will hold online job fairs allowing for real-time interaction between job hunters and employers. Efforts will be made to guide local jobseekers having difficulty finding employment. 

Optimizing government services. The government has streamlined administrative procedures and established an online administrative affairs platform to provide various services. People are also encouraged to make an appointment before visiting local administrative departments in order to avoid crowds.