The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today relaxed the measures to be adopted in the Beijing 2022 Winter Games to adjust them to the current situation and support the participation of athletes.

Beijing, January 24 (PL)-- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today relaxed the measures to be adopted in the Beijing 2022 Winter Games to adjust them to the current situation and support the participation of athletes.

The decision was taken after consultation with its members and health experts, and was put into effect immediately and retroactively.

Among the changes introduced is the redefinition of COVID-19 positive and now will be considered cases of the disease only those who have less than 35 in the threshold value of the number of cycles (CT) of the PCR tests.

According to the IOC, those infected will remain in isolation for at least 10 days and will be discharged when they do not show any symptoms of the disease and the tests show a TC equal to or greater than 35 for three consecutive days.

Meanwhile, the observation period for close contacts has been reduced from 14 to seven days, and they will be administered double PCR daily, but they will be able to choose whether they prefer nasal or throat PCR.

Finally, participants who frequently have a TC below 35 will be returned to their home countries.

Beijing is approaching the Winter Olympics and Paralympics under pressure due to the confirmation of 43 cases of the Delta and Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in its territory, outbreaks of COVID-19 in different regions of the country and a worsening of the pandemic at global level.

Although it has ruled out the use of confinement for the time being, its authorities have ordered PCRs in several districts and the disinfection of packages arriving from abroad.

They also restricted the sale of medicines for fever, cough and respiratory infections, and implemented an epidemiological armor that seeks to neutralize possible contagions before and during the sports event.

They even shortened the route of the Olympic flame and suspended the sale of tickets to the public for the galas and competitions. The few spectators present will be invited and must strictly comply with sanitary protocols.

Overall, China has accumulated at least 5,699 deaths and 137,98 cases in its mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan since the emergence of COVID-19 and the pathogen that causes it in December 2019.

It has 90 percent of the population with the full course of vaccination against the disease, which ensured it created a barrier of immunity.