All-around backing

The national assistance operation is being led by a group of top epidemiologists and critical care specialists who have arrived to help Hong Kong combat the pandemic.

They have inspected facilities and exchanged views with local experts to help diagnose the city's weakness in this fight. The first group of these experts to arrive also extended their visit to offer more support.

Liang Wannian, head of the National Health Commission's COVID-19 leading task force－by far the highest-ranking health official visiting the city for pandemic control efforts－pledged to do everything he could to help Hong Kong overcome the virus, expressing full confidence in winning the battle.

The Hong Kong government's pandemic adviser Hui Shu-cheong said the experts offered many insights, including advice on the reporting system for daily cases, the treatment of patients, and also arrangements for infected medical workers. Hui said these tips were highly appreciated and the government would actively follow them.

In addition to the experts, groups of other professionals have been working in Hong Kong for several weeks to enhance testing capacity. Several mainland biotechnical companies have also set up a number of inflatable laboratories to further shorten the testing process. To help with the mass testing, the mainland mobilized 9,000 sampling staff members, ready to offer help at any time.

Other medical workers unable to travel to Hong Kong have joined the battle in their own way.

Wedoctor, a mainland online healthcare service provider, invited more than 23,000 doctors on its platform to offer 24-hour medical consultation to Hong Kong residents for free.

Contracted by mainland companies, nine isolation and treatment facilities are being set up to ease the burden on hospitals. These projects are expected to provide 50,000 isolation and treatment places.

Facing cold weather, rain and the risk of infection, the workers toiled day and night to speed up the process. The facility in Tsing Yi, constructed in just seven days, was put into use on Tuesday.

Three designated sea routes and a rail link were opened with the neighboring city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, to transport vegetables and other supplies.

A number of mainland cities also opened "green channels" to deliver supplies. To handle the large amount of material received, mainland logistics giant Cainiao offered to provide warehouse space and delivery services for free in Hong Kong.

There have also been numerous donations of funds and anti-pandemic supplies from mainland enterprises and groups. Face masks, testing kits and medicine are among the donated supplies that continue to pour into Hong Kong, extending the warmth and care shown by mainland compatriots.

Many Hong Kong residents have taken to social media to voice their thanks for the mainland's prompt support in building isolation facilities, saying they hope workers who have arrived from across the border stay safe.

On a number of occasions, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has expressed heartfelt appreciation for the nation's unswerving support.

In a recent video call to all residents, Lam said that although the city faces a critical situation regarding the pandemic, with the nation's staunch support, she has no doubt that Hong Kong will get through the crisis and win the battle.

David Chan, a 30-year-old clerk, said the nation's support has been quick and reassuring at such a tough time. Noting that thousands of mainland medical workers helped the city conduct mass testing in 2020, he said such assistance is vital again to enable Hong Kong to quickly identify infected patients and rein in the virus.