BEIJING-- Political and legal units across China are ordered to properly handle illegal and criminal cases related to the ongoing epidemic of COVID-19 in accordance with the law.

Political and legal departments should strictly enforce the law to combat law violations and crimes that hinder epidemic prevention and control, including committing violent acts against doctors as well as producing and selling counterfeit goods, according to a guideline issued by the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The guideline also called for the legal, strict and timely investigation, prosecution and trial of serious epidemic-related criminal cases, as well as strengthened law enforcement supervision.

"The litigation rights of the parties concerned should be protected according to the law," the guideline said, adding that political and legal departments should deal with cases in strict accordance with legal procedures, as well as unify punishment standards.