Covid-19 world: China could ban Olympic spectators if outbreak worsens

China is considering a major clamp down on fans at the Beijing Winter Olympics as the Omicron variant spreads fear and uncertainty.

China is considering banning spectators from the Beijing Olympics if its current outbreak of Covid-19 worsens.

As the Omicron variant continues to spread, so does the fear and uncertainty of its impact on already escalating case loads.

As a result, China state media says the country could ban spectators from a major venue for the Beijing Olympics regardless of vaccination status or negative Covid results.

Unlike the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics, which took place last summer in mostly empty stadiums, organisers of February’s Winter Games have vowed to allow domestic spectators.

A worker paints a part of a building where the Olympic Rings are located for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Picture: AFP.

There has been no official announcement about how full venues will be so the rules at the 18,000-capacity National Indoor Stadium — which will host ice hockey — hint at what could lie ahead for the Games.

Currently, spectators at the arena will have to be vaccinated and show a negative Covid test, the Global Times said, quoting a venue manager.

Some 6,000 seats have been earmarked for the public but some or even all could be closed off, depending on “the epidemic situation in Beijing and nationwide at the time of the event”, arena operations official Lei Ming told the state press.

China — where the coronavirus was first detected in late 2019 — has maintained strict disease controls even as the rest of the world tries to find ways to live with the virus.

A staff member spraying disinfectant on his colleague in personal protective equipmentin in an area restricted due to the spread of Covid-19 in China. Picture: AFP.

With the Games just over 60 days away, the world’s most populous nation shows no sign of easing off on its Covid approach, requiring athletes to enter a “closed loop” for the duration of the Olympics and undergo daily testing.

Service personnel will enter the bubble “days before” the start of the Games and will not be allowed to leave until after the Winter Paralympics in March, Lei said.

No contact will be permitted between people inside and outside the closed loop. The Winter Olympics will be held February 4-20, while the Winter Paralympics will take place March 4-13.

– with AFP