The Chinese central government is putting more resources into helping the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) fight its fifth COVID-19 surge, as Wang Hesheng, vice minister of the National Health Commission (NHC) arrived in Shenzhen, south China on Wednesday to coordinate efforts.

Wang led the experts and health care workers in Guangdong Province to deploy the first group of supporting personnel to Hong Kong on Thursday. The team had Cantonese and English speaking members of the national epidemiological investigation group who are familiar with Hong Kong society. The NHC said they will assist Hong Kong in any way necessary.

Mobile testing vehicles were also deployed with the support group, which primarily includes epidemiologists.

Hong Kong reported 6,116 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday. Since the new flare-ups, the Central Government has increased the supply of goods and vaccines to the city. 

According to a HKSAR government spokesman, the food supply remained stable, and around 1.25 million Sinovac vaccine doses were delivered. 

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