Beijing’s first omicron patient has passed the virus to at least two close contacts, according to the health commission. Separately, a person in a different part of the capital tested preliminary positive for delta, city spokesperson Xu Hejian said at a briefing on Tuesday.
The infections come despite aggressive measures aimed at preventing an incursion into Beijing and a vow from Chinese officials to eradicate the virus by all means, including multiple rounds of mass testing, aggressive contact tracing, quarantine and lockdowns when outbreaks occur.
The flareup has also dulled the outlook for the Olympics that are due to start February 4 and were seen as an opportunity to showcase China’s economy and governance. Organizers have halted ticket sales to the general public and will instead invite select groups of spectators to attend, provided they obey strict virus precautions.
Beijing is facing “dual pressure” from imported infections and a local spread, Xu said at the briefing. “The new cases are once again reminding us of the complexity, arduousness, and challenges of epidemic prevention and control. All departments must be prepared for emergency response and strict guard against the virus by all means.”
