[Correspondent Diary] Even China's Pride 'Beijing' Has Been Breached

Strict Defense Ahead of Winter Olympics: Omicron Cases Confirmed in Beijing
Authorities Alarmed Ahead of Lunar New Year and Olympics... Concerns Over Spread Across Beijing

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The concerns of Chinese authorities have become a reality. About 20 days before the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a COVID-19 Omicron variant infection was confirmed in Beijing. The capital, which had been strictly controlled for the Winter Olympics, has been breached.

Photo by Zhongxin Network Capture

As Omicron cases emerged, Chinese health authorities appeared flustered. The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention hurriedly announced the confirmation of an Omicron case late last night. The first Omicron case in Beijing is a resident of Haidian District, who stated that he had not left Beijing or had close contact with confirmed cases for two weeks. He also disclosed his hourly movement routes from noon on January 1 to January 14. Anyone whose routes overlap must undergo COVID-19 testing, the authorities added.

The first case’s movements were revealed mainly during the New Year holiday period. Public transportation (subway and city buses), shopping malls, cafes, performance venues, department stores, fast food outlets (McDonald’s), and supermarkets (Walmart) were all places the confirmed case visited. It remains unclear where the first case was infected or how many people were subsequently infected. Beijing health authorities have not disclosed whether the first infected person was vaccinated or if this was a breakthrough infection.

Most importantly, Haidian District in Beijing is home to major Chinese universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University. It is also the area with the highest floating population in Beijing. The possibility of the virus spreading throughout Beijing cannot be ruled out. In the worst-case scenario, the city of 22 million people could be locked down during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, the country’s largest festival.

Chinese media, which had previously expressed confidence in their quarantine measures, have begun to cautiously express concern about the current situation.

Photo by Global Times capture

The state-run Global Times cited the National Health Commission’s announcement, reporting that as of noon on the 15th, Omicron cases had been confirmed in 14 provincial-level regions in China, stating that China is facing the viral threats of both Delta and Omicron. It also expressed concern that China could face a serious situation as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches.

Since the first Omicron case was confirmed in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on December 13 last month, Omicron has now been detected in 10 regions across China. Besides Tianjin, where the first Omicron case was confirmed on January 9, cases have also been reported in Anyang, Henan Province, and Dalian, Liaoning Province. The Omicron variant originating from Tianjin has spread to surrounding cities. In Guangdong Province, new Omicron cases have reappeared. As of the 14th, seven cases were confirmed in Zhuhai and one in Zhongshan. The spread appears to be radiating west, south, and north from the coastal city of Tianjin.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee stated that over 200 overseas Olympic officials would arrive in Beijing between the 15th and 16th, expressing confidence in a safe and successful Winter Olympics. However, enthusiasm for the Winter Olympics is cooling within China.

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