China's top procuratorate issues guideline on handling cases amid coronavirus outbreak

BEIJING -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate stressed making novel coronavirus outbreak prevention and control the top priority of its work while dealing with cases, according to a guideline issued on Jan 30.

Cases should be handled in strict accordance with the law, and isolation measures and prevention and control strategies should also be strictly implemented, it ordered.

While battling the epidemic, case files should be examined mainly in written form to reduce the flow of people, gatherings and face-to-face talking, the guideline said, adding that procedures including interrogating suspects, questioning witnesses and listening to defense lawyers' opinions can be conducted by telephone or video.

It stressed harsh punishment on criminal acts that endanger epidemic prevention and control work and disturb social order.