BEIJING: Another 24 positive coronavirus tests have been registered among people involved in the Beijing Olympics which opens on Friday.
The organising committee said on Tuesday that 16 of those cases concerned athletes or team members, 11 upon arrival at Beijing airport and the other five during the daily tests in the Olympic bubble, the closed loop.
The remaining eight positives from the tests carried out on Monday were among other Olympic stakeholders, seven at the airport.
The new figures bring the total number of Covid-19 infections detected in the Beijing Winter Games to 200 since January 23.
American three-time bobsleigh medallist Elana Meyers Taylor meanwhile tweeted on Tuesday that she tested positive within the closed loop on January 29.
“I am asymptomatic and currently at an isolation hotel- and yes I am completely isolated,” said Meyers Taylor who is considered a contender again in China.
“I’m remaining optimistic that I’ll be able to recover quickly and still have the opportunity to compete.”
Anyone who tests positive must isolate in a dedicated hotel. After two negative PCR tests at least 24 hours apart they may leave isolation before a 10-day period. Afterwards one negative test is sufficient.
Meyers Taylor is set to compete in the mono bob February 13 and 14, with training starting February 10. Her two-woman event is scheduled for February 18 and 19.
The Games are being held under strict coronavirus rules, which means all participants from athletes to journalists are completely separated from the general Chinese population.
To detect infections as quickly as possible, every participant in the bubble must take a PCR test daily, after a first one on arrival in the country.
China is still pursuing a strict zero-Covid strategy which sees even small clusters of cases targeted with strict measures. In the last few weeks, the authorities imposed lockdowns on several cities with millions of inhabitants. — dpa
