District governments in Shanghai are offering lease reductions, subsidies and generous loans to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) pull through amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Downtown Huangpu District released 10 new supportive policies on Thursday and launched Shanghai's first one-stop service window for companies affected by the current epidemic. Support measures include tax breaks and deferments for businesses suffering great losses and for businesses where normal operations have been interrupted due to the outbreak. Office rents can be exempted for a month for SMEs and startup firms based at local incubators and innovation parks. Officials promise to subsidize park operators. The district government will grant subsidies and awards more swiftly for companies meeting the criteria of various supportive policies released by the city or district governments. The new measures also feature stronger financing support, lower lending rates and more credit from Huangpu-based financial institutions. During the outbreak, companies can manage social security, taxation, registration, foreigners' work permit applications and other affairs through the one-stop website of the district's administrative service center. Yangpu District also released supportive policies to aid local companies. The district offers technological supports and subsidies to encourage companies and research institutes to develop technologies and products that can help to prevent the spread of the disease; as well as online office, education and medical services. The district government can guarantee bank loans up to 10 million yuan to help SMEs restore production amid the outbreak. It's also offering two-month rent reductions for SMEs and startups in innovation parks in Yangpu. Professionals living at talent apartments in Yangpu can also enjoy a two-month rent reduction. "The measures are expected to help stabilize labor forces and enhance the confidence of SMEs during the coronavirus outbreak," said Shao Xiaoyan, deputy director of Yangpu's development and reform commission. Other districts, including Baoshan, Jing'an and Jiading, are also offering similar measures. The city government has announced that it will postpone its annual social security insurance contribution adjustment by three months, to July 1, as part of measures to reduce the burden on businesses. The deferment is expected to cut 10.1 billion yuan (US$1.45 billion) in social security fees to be paid by enterprises this year, according to the city government. Nationwide, cities including Beijing, Qingdao and Suzhou have rolled out policies to bolster SMEs by reducing pressure from loans, rents and social security payments.