BEIJING — China's finance authorities at all levels have allocated 47 billion yuan (about $6.8 billion) as of midnight Feb 2 for the coronavirus prevention and control work, official data showed.

The funds were used mainly to provide medical treatments and temporary allowances to medical workers and epidemic prevention staff as well as purchasing medical equipment and diagnostic reagents, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

The MOF has taken a host of measures to support epidemic control, such as offering credit supports to key companies, simplifying procedures for procurement with public funds, and adopting more favorable tax policies to speed up the import of supplies.

Up to 17,205 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection had been reported on the Chinese mainland by the end of Feb 2, according to the National Health Commission.