WUHAN — Authorities in Central China's Hubei province where the novel coronavirus broke out have issued 17 favorable policies to support the battle against the epidemic.

The policies include tax reductions for companies in their charity work related to the epidemic, as well as for individual vegetable vendors. Non-profit organizations, villages and communities are also entitled to the tax reductions related to the fight against the virus.

The government will give out subsidies to medical staff working on the front lines as well as staff working overtime in medical manufacturing companies. The subsidies will also go to vegetable growing companies, cooperatives, farmers, supermarkets and rural markets.

The provincial government is encouraging medical manufacturers with subsidies to produce more medical supplies.

Hubei Province reported 2,147 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 81 new deaths on Saturday, local health authorities said on Feb 9.