China Reports 34 New Cases Of COVID-19 Linked To Personnel Of The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

JAKARTA - As many as 34 people among personnel related to the Olympics were found to be infected with COVID-19, the organizing committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics said on Sunday as reported by Antara.

Among those who tested positive for COVID-19 was Natalia Maliszewska, a Polish athlete who was championed to win a medal in the short track skating event.

Apart from Maliszweska, there were 13 athletes or team officials who tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving at the airport on Saturday (29/1).

Of the total number of infected, 23 of them were those who had just arrived at the airport while the other 11 were already in a closed environment.

The confined environment separates Olympic organizers from the general public in an effort to contain the spread of infection.

In a limited environment, Olympic participants can move freely between lodging and competition locations using official means of transportation.

However, they are not allowed to roam in the city area.

Everyone involved in the Olympics, including the media and staff, are also required to undergo daily COVID-19 tests.

Maliszewska is the eighth Polish athlete to test positive for COVID-19 and has been in isolation, the Polish Olympic Committee said on Sunday.

Australia, meanwhile, on Sunday announced that one person had tested positive for COVID-19 among its team members, but did not specify whether that person was an athlete or a coach.

Organizers of the Beijing Olympics have warned that cases of COVID-19 will increase in the coming days.

The warning comes at a time when the Chinese capital is imposing strict measures.

The Beijing municipal government has banned Olympic participants from roaming the city or making contact with local residents.

Unlike many countries that are trying to live life with COVID-19, China has isolated itself by implementing a zero-tolerance policy.

The country also canceled almost all international flights.

Athletes and contingents participating in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics must take direct flights to the host city on chartered aircraft.