Chinese authorities had allocated 25.94 billion yuan (3.71 billion U.S. dollars) by Thursday to improve working conditions of medical staff fighting the novel coronavirus, said a finance official Friday.

Ou Wenhan, assistant minister of finance, made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing, adding that the money was used to purchase medical equipment and protective materials and upgrade facilities in medical institutions.

Each frontline medical and epidemic prevention worker would receive a subsidy of 300 yuan or 200 yuan per day according to different risk levels, which would be fully covered by the central fiscal, said Ou.