Organisers of the Winter Olympics in Beijing have reported that an unnamed athlete has tested positive for Covid-19 upon arriving in China on Sunday.
Of 153 athletes and officials that arrived in Beijing on Sunday only one tested positive, stated the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 Organising Committee.
The committee already announced on Sunday that 39 people accredited for the Olympics had tested positive. By Monday, three others had tested positive, in addition to two people who are part of the Olympic bubble.
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These six new cases come on top of 72 other positive cases from people who arrived in China between 4 and 22 January.
Relaxing measures
Despite the positive cases, in consultation with medical experts from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Chinese authorities have eased some coronavirus measures ahead of the Games.
Regarding PCR tests upon arrival in China or during screenings, the CT (Cycle Threshold) value – which determines whether a person is positive or not – was reduced from 40 to 35. Those with a CT score greater than or equal to 35 will be treated as contact cases and must self-isolate for a week.
"The protective measures against Covid-19 for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games have been adjusted... to better respond to the reality of the current environment and to support the participants of the Games."
The Games begin on 4 February and will continue throughout the month.
