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Beijing tightens Covid entry rules ahead of Olympics

17 November 2021 12:51 (UTC +04:00)

Strict new Covid-19 restrictions come into force for visitors to Beijing on Wednesday, APA reports citing the Guardian.

All visitors to the capital must now show a negative Covid test result from the past 48 hours, while flights from higher risk areas within China will be cancelled or limited to one a day at reduced capacity, the AFP reports.

The restrictions also reportedly include Covid tests every three days for the more than 30,000 people working with cold-chain imports in the city.

“Beijing is the capital and has strong regional and international connections … The virus must not be introduced into Beijing and it must not spread in Beijing,” city spokesman Xu Hejian said at a press conference on Tuesday.

With less than 100 days to go to the games in February, China is bracing for a challenge to its zero-Covid strategy when thousands of international athletes descend on Beijing after months of strict border controls.

No spectators from outside China will be allowed to attend the Olympics, which will be held from 4 February in a “closed-loop” bubble.

And the estimated 2,900 athletes must be fully vaccinated or face 21 days’ quarantine upon arrival. They will also be tested daily.