First COVID-19 Case in Korean Team Confirmed... Ski Competition Official

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] A COVID-19 case has been confirmed among the South Korean delegation participating in the 24th Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced on the 5th, "One ski event official who arrived on the 3rd tested positive at Beijing airport and was isolated according to the procedures of the organizing committee."

The committee also stated, "Monitoring is being conducted on passengers seated close to the infected person on the flight," adding, "There have been no additional transmissions so far."

The official, who had moved to the athletes' village, underwent a retest on the afternoon of the 4th but tested positive again on the morning of the 5th. They were subsequently isolated in a separate facility.

To be released from isolation, two consecutive negative results must be obtained from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted 24 hours apart, or isolation must last more than 10 days with three consecutive cycle threshold (Ct) values of 35 or higher. Even after release, the individual must follow the same guidelines as close contacts for seven days.

Close contacts are isolated in single rooms and are subject to restrictions including no use of shared vehicles when moving between isolation and competition venues, COVID-19 testing every 12 hours for seven days, testing six hours before training and competition, and limitations on fitness center training.

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