Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen in a counting machine at a bank in Beijing. (Photo: Agencies)

The Ministry of Finance is formulating a plan to allocate a second round of special funds for the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak, said Vice-Finance Minister Yu Weiping on Friday.

Finance authorities at different levels had arranged a total of 66.74 billion yuan ($9.58 billion) for epidemic prevention and control as of 5 pm, Feb 6, with 28.48 billion yuan of the funds having been expended, Yu said at a news conference on Friday.

The nation is capable of guaranteeing the funds for epidemic prevention and control at all regions, Yu said.