Beijing In The Midst Of Omicron Outbreak As Winter Olympics Approach

Beijing, China, the city set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics at the end of the week, has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in 18 months.

BBC reports that within the closed-loop bubble of the Olympics organizers, already 34 cases have been reported, including 13 athletes and officials arriving from the airport despite the restrictions on travel in and out of the country. China’s National Health Commission reported 20 recent cases in the city and 54 nationwide on Sunday, the highest number of cases since June 2020.

To combat the spread of COVID-19, China is requiring all athletes, organizers, support staff, media, etc. to wear masks and get tested daily. China has already banned overseas spectators from attending the games as an added measure of protection. However, with thousands of people involved in the events, it is likely that the strict bubble China has imposed will eventually burst.

Since the SARS-COV-2 or COVID-19 virus was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China, in late 2019, China has had a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the virus, imposing draconian but necessary lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus. China boasts only having 4,636 deaths because of the pandemic, but those numbers have been questioned.

As is usually the case with popular international events, the 2022 Beijing Winter Games have been the subject of controversy, including concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

There is also concern about the safety of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who went radio silent for three weeks after making sexual abuse allegations against a former premier of China. Air quality during the games is also a concern with heavy air pollution likely to occur during the events.

The U.S., Australia, Britain and Canada have announced diplomatic boycotts of the games, which begin on Friday. Biden cited the “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity” against minority groups in China.

Athletes from these countries are expected to compete at the games, but Chinese officials have warned that anyone speaking out against China could be subject to “consequences.”