BEIJING — China will step up efforts to audit fiscal funds and social donations for the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus, the country's top auditor said on Feb 14.

Auditing fiscal funds and donations for the epidemic is a major political task and efforts should be made to find out, report and rectify problems in a timely manner, said Hu Zejun, head of the National Audit Office (NAO).

Hu also underscored the timely report of issues and institutional hurdles resulting in interception, misuse and embezzlement of the anti-virus funds and materials.

Those suspected of violating laws and regulations shall be handed over to disciplinary or judicial organs, she added.

To ensure that anti-virus measures are put in place, the NAO released a circular on Feb 7 to deploy special auditing work, focusing on the implementation of tax relief, interest rate discounts and favorable loan policies as well as the use of fiscal funds and social donations.