China Everbright Bank (CEB), a joint-stock lender, has enhanced its credit support for the enterprises in sectors safeguarding medical care, public health and daily necessity supplies since the beginning of this year.

As of Feb. 18, about 27.08 billion yuan (about 3.86 billion U.S. dollars) of loans had been issued by the bank to support these firms.

From Feb. 1 to 20, the CEB issued a total of 15.6 billion yuan of loans for the companies in sectors of catering, wholesale, retail, transportation, logistics and tourism, which were likely to bear the brunt of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Moreover, the bank has provided special loans totaling 20 billion yuan to prop up the resumption of work and production as well as epidemic control and prevention. Special loans for Wuhan, the center of the epidemic outbreak, were issued at the most preferential rate.

The bank will offer an additional inclusive loan of no less than 31 billion yuan to shore up the micro and small businesses and firms in difficulties, according to the CEB.