A medical worker takes a driver’s temperature in a Miao autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province on Monday. As part of the effort involving epidemic prevention, the prefecture on Monday gathered local migrant workers to return to their jobs, which involved 1,005 private cars that depart at the same time for temperature measuring. Photo: IC

 
East China's Jiangsu Province released a slew of measures Thursday, including rent reduction and financial support, to help the aged care service industry weather the coronavirus epidemic.

The province will allow companies or institutions that provide elderly care services to delay tax payment for up to three months as they face a downside in business due to the epidemic, according to the provincial government.

For businesses that lease state-owned properties, the rent can be exempted or halved for up to three months. Banking institutions are required to increase financial support to guarantee bank loans, the government said.

The province will also step up support for the aged care industry to ensure the provision of daily necessities and medical supplies for epidemic prevention and control.

Jiangsu has 2,448 elderly care institutions across the province. None of the elderly people and caregivers in those institutions has been infected with the coronavirus, according to the province's department of civil affairs.