Another 24 positive coronavirus tests have been registered among people involved in the Beijing Winter Olympics which open on Friday.
The organizing committee said on Tuesday that 16 of those cases concerned athletes or team members.
Eleven of these were upon arrival at Beijing airport while the other five were during the daily tests in the Olympic bubble, the closed-loop.
The remaining eight positives from the tests carried out on Monday were among other Olympic stakeholders, with seven at the airport.
The new figures bring the total number of COVID-19 infections detected in the Beijing Winter Games to 200 since Jan. 23.
American three-time bobsleigh medallist Elana Meyers Taylor meanwhile tweeted on Tuesday that she tested positive within the closed-loop on Saturday.
“I am asymptomatic and currently at an isolation hotel — and yes I am completely isolated,” said Meyers Taylor who is considered a contender again in China.
“I’m remaining optimistic that I’ll be able to recover quickly and still have the opportunity to compete.”
Anyone who tests positive must isolate in a dedicated hotel.
After two negative PCR tests, which must be at least 24 hours apart, they may leave isolation before a 10-day period.
Afterward, one negative test is sufficient.
Meyers Taylor is set to compete in the mono bob on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, with training starting on Feb. 10.
Her two-woman event is scheduled for Feb. 18 and Feb. 19.
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The Games are being held under strict coronavirus rules, which means all participants from athletes to journalists are completely separated from the general Chinese population.
To detect infections as quickly as possible, every participant in the bubble must take a PCR test daily, after the first one on arrival in the country.
China is still pursuing a strict zero-COVID strategy which sees even small clusters of cases targeted with strict measures.
In the last few weeks, the authorities imposed lockdowns on several cities with millions of inhabitants.(dpa/NAN)
