China improves legal services amid epidemic

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Justice has issued a guideline on providing better legal services concerning the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic and coordination in advancing economic and social development.

Prisons and drug rehabilitation centers should be key targets of epidemic prevention and control for judicial administrative organs, the guideline said, noting that closed-off management measures for these facilities should be enhanced.

The guideline also called for efforts to improve laws and regulations concerning the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, response to public health emergencies and wild animal protection.

It also required immediate handling of administrative review cases concerning punishments on hoarding and price gouging, spreading rumors and concealing symptoms, stressing that cases involving resumption of production, identification of work-related injuries and collection of social security fees should be handled properly.

The regulation also called for better legal assistance, adding that administrative organs should handle affairs including epidemic-related labor disputes and medical disputes in a timely manner.