Topline
Thirty two athletes at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are currently isolating at designated facilities after testing positive for Covid-19, the Games’ organizers announced on Tuesday, a disclosure that follows complaints of poor living conditions faced by several quarantined athletes.
Key Facts
The Olympics’ organizers are attempting to allow as many people out of isolation as safely possible, said Brian McCloskey, the event’s top medical expert.
He added that, so far, 50 athletes have been discharged from isolation and a “vast majority” of the isolated individuals do not require any medical treatment.
McCloskey said that everyone in the Olympic bubble is being tested regularly and nearly everyone has been vaccinated, which makes the chance of catching Covid in the bubble “less than anywhere else in the world.”
Despite this some athletes have tested positive and McCloskey said the organizers are doing their best to distinguish between people who continue testing positive intermittently for a long time despite not being contagious and those who have been re-infected and capable of spreading the virus.
Key Background
Earlier this week, representatives from several participating nations at the Beijing Olympics complained about conditions faced by quarantined athletes. On Sunday, the head coach of Finland’s men’s ice hockey team accused the organizers of not respecting the human rights of one of the team’s players who was in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. The coach alleged that the player Marko Anttila was “not getting food” and was under immense stress. The Finnish team doctor added that Anttila was being forced to remain in isolation despite testing positive 18 days prior and no longer being considered infectious. On Saturday another isolated athlete, German skier Eric Frenzel, complained about a lack of cleanliness, poor food and insufficient WiFi at the isolation facility. Belgian Skeleton racer Kim Meylemans also posted a tearful video on her Instagram on Wednesday when she was moved to a second isolation facility after initially being cleared from the event’s Covid protocols.
Tangent
On Monday, players wore masks during an ice hockey game between Canada and Russia. This unusual step took place after concerns over whether or not several Russian players had Covid.
Further Reading
‘Not Getting Food’: China Under Fire For Treatment Of Olympic Athletes (Forbes)
Olympic organizers: 32 athletes in isolation for COVID (Associated Press)
