Omicron Case Confirmed in Beijing, China... Winter Olympics Quarantine Alert Raised

[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] On the 15th, about 20 days before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, a COVID-19 Omicron variant case was confirmed in Beijing.

Beijing city authorities announced at a COVID-19 prevention press conference held that afternoon that a resident living in Haidian District was confirmed to be infected with Omicron. Beijing city explained that this infected person had not left Beijing or had close contact with confirmed cases within the past 14 days. Beijing city added that two people living with the confirmed case tested negative in nucleic acid tests.

The prevention authorities have sealed off the building where the confirmed case resides and are collecting samples from 2,430 nearby residents for nucleic acid testing. Additionally, 15 close contacts are being controlled and managed.

The prevention authorities have not yet announced the exact investigation results regarding the route of Omicron's entry.

After Omicron occurred in Tianjin, about 110 km from Beijing, on the 8th, the prevention authorities increased quarantine measures by mostly suspending train operations from Tianjin to Beijing and recommending refraining from commuting between the two cities.

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