China admits: Omicron will hold the Winter Olympics

China admitted Tuesday that the new mutant of the Corona virus "Omicron" will be synonymous with additional difficulties in organizing the Winter Olympics scheduled in Beijing from February 4 to 20, but it renewed its confidence in the success of the Olympic event.

"It will certainly lead to some challenges in terms of epidemic control," Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press conference.

"But China has experience in this field and I am absolutely convinced that the Winter Olympics will be held without worries and as planned," he added.

China has largely controlled the epidemic on its soil thanks to strict measures: very severe restrictions on international flights, mandatory quarantines on arrival, extensive checks or even isolation of contact cases that are identified thanks to travel-tracking apps.

Life largely returned to normal in the spring of last year.

But the country still faces the emergence of small scattered spots.

While the Chinese border has been virtually closed since March 2020, the Beijing Olympics will be held in a health bubble in which some 2,900 athletes expected to participate will not be able to escape.

Participants must either be vaccinated or self-quarantine for 21 days upon arrival, and will be tested for COVID-19 on a daily basis.

Only fans residing in China will be able to attend the Games.

China detects only a few dozen cases of "Covid-19" every day.

The mutant "Omicron" has not yet been discovered in the country, with the exception of Hong Kong Autonomous Region.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news