Olympics China anticipates COVID-19 cases as a result of Games arrivals

Olympics China anticipates COVID-19 cases as a result of Games arrivals. 

On Thursday, the organizers for the Beijing Winter Olympics said that they anticipate seeing a “certain number” of COVID-19 cases in China due to foreigners coming to the Games and strongly encouraged athletes to receive booster vaccinations because of the spread COVID-19 Omicron variant.

The Games, which will run from February 4 through February 20, will be held within a “closed-loop” to limit spreading the disease in China, which has one of the most stringent COVID restrictions worldwide and has managed to stop local outbreaks.

“Many people from different countries and regions will come to China and the flow of people will increase. Consequently, a certain number of positive cases will become a high probability event,” Han Zirong, the vice president and secretary-general of the Beijing organizing committee, said at an event for journalists.

China has almost shut its borders due to the epidemic and has decided not to allow spectators from overseas to the Games. 

The country has reported five instances of the Omicron variant, which includes four from individuals from abroad.

The rapid growth of Omicron throughout North America led the National Hockey League to announce on Wednesday that their players won’t be playing in Beijing, which will deprive the Games of the strength of the sport’s most famous players.