With the city reporting more than 18,200 Covid infections in just a matter of weeks, it would be unusual for Beijing not to be worried. But the “important directive” from President Xi Jinping has set a more serious tone for an all-out battle, not only on the part of the government, but also the city as a whole. At stake is not just the performance of Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration, but people’s lives and social stability. Reports on the front pages of two Beijing-funded newspapers on Wednesday underline the significance of the matter. Against the grim backdrop of another daily high of more than 11,000 confirmed and preliminary cases, the so-called three alls and two ensures from the state leader are telling. Specifically, the government is required to make fighting the epidemic “a mission overriding all others”; to “exhaust all possible resources and manpower”; and “adopt all necessary measures” to “ensure the safety of public lives and social stability”. Separately, Vice-Premier Han Zheng has instructed the relevant mainland authorities to help tackle a range of pandemic-related issues facing the city, along with a new mechanism led by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and the National Health Commission to help coordinate antivirus efforts. Xi’s remarks followed talks between Hong Kong and the mainland to strengthen testing, isolation and treatment facilities and to enhance the supply of food and daily necessities. They also came less than two months after a duty visit by Lam during which Xi “fully acknowledged” her leadership in combating the pandemic. How this will shape the soon-to-begin chief executive election remains to be seen. But winning the Covid-19 battle must now be the priority. Chief executive hopeful Titus Wu says he has what it takes to unite Hong Kong Lam has pledged to make every effort to fight the pandemic. We trust she needs no further reminders on how dire the situation is, as shown by the lengthening queues for treatment and growing death toll, which on Tuesday included a three-year-old girl, a 100-year-old woman and seven others in yet another daily high. This is why people’s lives are being given top priority by Xi. Equally crucial is the overall stability of society. The prolonged pandemic continues to undermine the business environment and put people’s patience to the test, both of which are not conducive to the well-being of the city. Beijing’s involvement with a “high-level coordination mechanism” signals a new stage in the battle, but time is running out. Xi has stressed that the “main responsibility” for containing the fifth wave rests with the city’s government. Clearly, that means the buck still stops with the chief executive. The Lam team must show greater determination and accountability and double down on efforts in resolving bottlenecks.