BEIJING — China will support the virus-hit logistics sector to resume work as part of efforts to boost the economy in the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, said the country's top economic planner on March 6.

Labor shortages and low demand in the short term are the main barriers for logistics enterprises to run at full tilt, said Gao Gao, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference.

Tailored measures should be adopted to encourage logistics employees in areas with low health risks to resume work as soon as possible, said Gao, urging efforts to streamline the procedures and monitor the virus-prevention work.

China will pool resources for the construction of major projects such as the national logistics hubs and cold chain logistics bases, he said.

Gao also noted that the transportation of medical supplies, daily necessities and major production goods in regions with relatively high infectious risks should be smoothed amid the epidemic control.

By the end of February, over 60 percent of logistics firms and nearly 90 percent of logistics parks had resumed work, showing upbeat signs of the sector, said Gao.