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Corona test station in Xi'an
Photo: Li Yibo / AP
China is taking drastic steps to contain the coronavirus a few weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics.
The 13-million-inhabitant city of Xi'an in central China is in lockdown after several dozen infections were registered there.
Since midnight, residents have not been allowed to leave their apartments - with a few exceptions.
A family member is allowed to go shopping every other day.
Schools as well as all shops and services that are not absolutely necessary for daily life have been closed.
New cases probably caused by Delta
63 infections with the virus were reported in Xi'an on Thursday.
The outbreak was due to "imported cases," it said.
The infections apparently occurred mainly with the Delta variant of the virus.
In addition, the previously strict travel restrictions were drastically tightened to prevent the spread of the corona virus in the country.
The Winter Games will begin on February 4th in the capital Beijing, which is more than 1000 kilometers away.
The USA and other states are diplomatically boycotting games
The USA, Great Britain and Australia recently announced that they would diplomatically boycott the Winter Games in China.
Washington justified this with an "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity" in the province of Xinjiang.
Beijing is holding hundreds of thousands of members of the Muslim Uyghur minority there in penal and labor camps.
China described the announcement as a violation of "political neutrality in sport".
more on the subject
Olympic cancellation by the US government: »The boycott disrupts the perfect staging« An interview by Antje Windmann
Before the Olympics in Beijing: What the Peng Shuai case says about China and #MeToo By Georg Fahrion and Yasemin Yüksel
Olympic boycott by the US government: Not being there is everythingAn analysis by Bernhard Zand, Hong Kong
Olympics in China: Great Britain participates in the diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games
Diplomatic boycott of the Olympic Games: China accuses USA of "ideological prejudices"
Athletes have to follow strict rules
Because of the major event, those responsible are worried about further corona cases.
It is highly likely that "a certain number of cases" will occur during the Games, given that there are so many participants from all over the world and from China, said Vice President of the Organizing Committee of the Games, Han Zirong.
The requirements of the Chinese authorities for the prevention of Covid-19 must be "vigorously implemented" in order to protect the safety of the Olympic participants and the Chinese public.
China is pursuing a "dynamic zero Covid strategy," said Han Zirong. Whether new measures have to be taken before or during the games from February 4th to 20th, depends on the change in the situation worldwide and in China - especially on the contagion and harmfulness of the Omikron variant. "We are paying close attention to the changes in the pandemic," said the Vice President. "Only by remaining flexible can we cope with the risks and challenges that the corona pandemic brings us."
The games should take place under strict conditions anyway.
All Olympic participants can only move in »closed cycles«, have to undergo daily tests and are immediately isolated in the event of an infection.
Foreign viewers are not allowed.
According to Han Zirong, there is still further research into whether and under what circumstances a domestic audience can participate.
The plans would be announced "in good time."
fek / dpa / sid
