Repeated COVID-19 testing of millions of Beijing residents is beginning to test the patience of some as the city steps up to stem the spread of the virus ahead of the Olympics in Beijing. , which will be launched on February 4.
The third round of mass testing, which began on Wednesday for the two million residents of Fengtai district, sparked complaints online from residents bundled up against the wind to queue outside. The sky was sunny, but the temperature hovered around freezing during the day.
“I think it’s too common,” said one woman who gave only her last name, Ma. “I did it yesterday, and they asked me to do it again today. I asked the staff, and one person said, ‘On the principle that we test everyone who should be tested, just do it since you’re here.’ »
Athletes and other participants in the Olympic Games are completely isolated from the general public, in order to prevent cross-infection.
Thirteen people who came for the Games tested positive on Tuesday, bringing the total to 106 of the 3,695 who have already arrived. Two of the positive cases are either athletes or team members.
People who test positive are taken to hospital if they have symptoms, or to a quarantine hotel if they don’t.
Beijing officials said eight people had tested positive in the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m., for a total of 69 Delta variant infections in the city. Among these 69 cases, 54 are symptomatic and 15 are asymptomatic.
The numbers are low compared to other countries — South Korea’s latest daily tally topped 13,000 cases — but they are a major concern for the government nine days before the Games.
The Chinese capital has tightened the country’s already stringent pandemic control measures. Mass testing, within neighborhoods and buildings, is underway across the city, and the local government announced this week that anyone buying cold, fever, headache or other medicine must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours.