Some of the biggest names in Chinese ecommerce are introducing measures to keep their merchants afloat as the coronavirus outbreak threatens their businesses. JD.com launched 11 subsidies covering 250,000 businesses while Pinduoduo will offer 2 yuan per order for certain deliveries, according to media reports citing a letter to the merchants. 

Ecommerce isn't the only area in need of help from local tech giants. Meituan, the owner of one of China’s most popular food delivery apps, launched seven measures, including a 350 million yuan (US$50 million) fund to support restaurants and commission fee waivers in Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. Alibaba Local Life Services, which owns food delivery platforms Eleme and Koubei, is also temporarily exempting Koubei merchants from commission fees.

A number of tech giants are now offering financial services such as loans and delayed repayments, including Meituan, JD, Alibaba and household electronics store chain Suning. The latter is focusing on its online shopping platform, but it also said it will temporarily waive rent for its cooperative brands in the company-owned commercial spaces.