China Anxious Over COVID-19 Spread from Tianjin Ahead of Winter Olympics

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[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] With the opening of the '2022 Beijing Winter Olympics' just 4 weeks away, an Omicron local infection case was confirmed in Tianjin, a city near Beijing, causing Beijing health authorities to be on high alert. Tianjin, located about 140 km from Beijing, is a large city with a population of 15 million. It is known that about 100,000 workers commute from Tianjin to Beijing.

Photo by Global Times Capture

According to Chinese media such as Caixin on the 10th, as of 9 PM on the 9th, 20 additional COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Jinnan District, Tianjin. Among the 20 confirmed cases on that day, 15 are reported to be children aged 8 to 13. Chinese media reported that all 20 were close contacts of patients confirmed the previous day.

Accordingly, as of the 9th, the total number of COVID-19 infections in Tianjin has increased to 40. Notably, one of the confirmed cases is known to be a worker at a nursing-related institution, suggesting that cases among the elderly and vulnerable may increase.

Additionally, an education official at a middle school in Tianjin was confirmed to be infected with Omicron, raising the possibility of spread throughout the entire school.

Tianjin health authorities have locked down 29 residential complexes as of the previous day and have begun PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing for COVID-19 targeting the entire population of 15 million in Tianjin.

Within China, considering the incubation period, it is believed that the Omicron variant has already spread throughout Tianjin.

The Global Times expressed concern that among Chinese cities, Tianjin is highly likely to become the first major battleground for Omicron. Zhang Ying, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Health Commission, said, "Despite the short time, third-generation infections have been confirmed," indicating that the virus has spread throughout the local community.

Some in China predict that after the Chinese government's declaration of victory over COVID-19, Tianjin is likely to become the second locked-down city after Xi'an. As of the 8th, about 76,000 people were already quarantined. If additional Omicron infections are confirmed, the entire city may be closed down.

In fact, on the holiday the previous day, some areas in Tianjin saw a spectacle of people lining up in front of supermarkets preparing for lockdown, and some food items were sold out. Delivery services have also been suspended.

As the situation rapidly escalates, the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Commerce announced that it is establishing an emergency food supply plan, reassuring citizens that Tianjin currently holds a 30-day stockpile of rice, flour, and other essentials.

Checkpoints have already been set up on all highways leading out of Tianjin, effectively putting the city under lockdown. Train services are also being canceled one after another.

Beijing is on high alert due to the COVID-19 spread originating from Tianjin. With less than a month until the Winter Olympics opening, the confirmation of local spread of the highly transmissible Omicron virus in a neighboring city has caused great anxiety.

The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended work-from-home orders for an estimated 100,000 commuters between Tianjin and Beijing.

Additionally, all Beijing residents who have visited two areas in Tianjin?Jinnan District and Nankai District?since December 23 of last year are required to undergo self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing.

Professor Yang Zhanxu of Wuhan University expressed concern, saying, "Considering the virus incubation period of 3 to 4 days, the number of infected people will continue to increase," and "It cannot be ruled out that the virus originating from Tianjin has already spread to other regions."

Meanwhile, among China's 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, Xi'an in Shanxi Province is under full lockdown, and Zhengzhou in Henan Province has implemented partial city lockdown measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.