Macao, HK officials join National Health Commission in virtual meeting on epidemic control

The Chinese mainland is willing to deepen cooperation with the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in combating the COVID-19 epidemic and enhance sharing of disease control techniques and experiences, a senior official from the National Health Commission said on Friday.

As Hong Kong is battling a new wave of outbreaks, the commission held a virtual meeting with authorities from Hong Kong, Macao and neighboring Guangdong province on the mainland to pool virus control experiences and exchange views on key issues.

Yu Yanhong, a member of the National Health Commission Party Leadership Group, said during the meeting the mainland will provide all necessary support the HKSAR government needs in order to rein in the recent resurgence of the virus.

She stressed the role of establishing an efficient decision-making and leadership mechanism, implementing targeted and precise containment measures and stepping up efforts to cut community transmission in helping the mainland stem the epidemic.

Ramping up nucleic acid testing capabilities rapidly and enhancing public awareness also contribute to the mainland's disease control efforts, she added.

During the meeting, Secretary for Food and Health of the HKSAR government Sophia Chan Siu-chee discussed the local epidemic situation and its disease control strategies.

Officials from the Guangdong provincial health commission and the Macao SAR government also shared each region's virus control experiences.

About 30 experts participated in the video conference, discussing a wide range of issues including the construction and management of temporary treatment centers, also known as fangcang hospitals, nucleic acid testing and community management.