EXPLAINER: How COVID tests, isolation will work at Olympics

Olympic staff in hazmat fits work at a credential validation desk on the Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport forward of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. Athletes and others headed to the Olympics face a large number of COVID-19 testing hurdles as organizers search to catch any infections early and preserve the virus at bay.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Athletes and others headed to the Olympics face a large number of COVID-19 testing hurdles as organizers search to catch any infections early and preserve the virus at bay.

A optimistic check may imply athletes sitting out the Beijing Video games — maybe even when they’re now not contagious. Olympic officers say they’ll be versatile and overview the necessity for isolation on a case-by-case foundation.

It’s a part of the complexities of staging a giant occasion within the pandemic, as a result of organizers wish to guarantee they don’t gas outbreaks amongst contributors or the native inhabitants. Since early within the pandemic, China has taken a “zero tolerance” method to the virus.

Comparable protocols to create virus-free “bubbles” had been a part of the Tokyo Video games final summer season and the top of the 2020 NBA season.

Right here’s how testing will work on the Winter Olympics:

WHAT WILL TESTING BE LIKE?

All athletes, staff officers, workers and journalists want to supply two latest unfavourable checks earlier than heading to China. They are going to be examined once more on the airport earlier than heading to their Olympic websites. In the course of the Video games, everybody will get every day throat swabs for PCR lab checks, with outcomes coming again inside a day.

And most everybody will already be vaccinated, as a result of those that aren’t must quarantine for 3 weeks.

WHAT IF SOMEONE TESTS POSITIVE?

First, there shall be a confirmatory check. Anybody who has COVID-19 with signs will go to a hospital. These with out signs go to a devoted resort for isolation. In each instances, they’ll be unable to compete till cleared for discharge.

HOW LONG WILL ISOLATION LAST?

It relies upon. To get out of isolation, folks typically want consecutive days of unfavourable checks and no signs. They are going to be examined with PCR lab checks that may detect tiny quantities of virus. Meaning a check can come again optimistic lengthy after an individual is prone to unfold the virus. The uncertainty over how lengthy isolation may final is fueling worries. Final week, NBC mentioned its announcers and plenty of hosts would cowl the Video games from the U.S.

ARE TESTS THE ONLY FACTOR?

Organizers in Beijing say they’ll have a look at different elements along with testing when evaluating whether or not somebody can depart isolation.

“What’s the individual’s previous historical past? Have that they had confirmed COVID previously? Have they been vaccinated absolutely?” mentioned Dr. Brian McCloskey, chair of the medical knowledgeable panel for the Beijing Olympics.

PCR checks work by copying the genetic materials in a specimen to detect a virus. If a lab must run plenty of amplification cycles to choose up the virus, it may imply an individual has low ranges and isn’t prone to unfold it.

This week, organizers mentioned they might take a much less stringent method on isolation for these with low ranges of the virus. They eased the testing threshold that requires isolation however mentioned folks with detectable ranges of the virus nonetheless must take further precautions, corresponding to limiting contact with others and taking two checks a day, as an alternative of 1.

As scientists have realized extra about COVID-19 and the way it spreads, well being officers in numerous nations have revised isolation necessities. Within the U.S., for instance, folks can finish isolation after 5 days in the event that they don’t have any signs — with out testing to see in the event that they’re unfavourable. However they’re suggested to keep away from journey and others at excessive danger.

ARE MANY INFECTIONS EXPECTED?

Constructive instances are anticipated to pop up, with the extremely contagious omicron variant fueling infections in lots of components of the world.

Thus far, organizers say there have been 39 optimistic outcomes out of the greater than 2,500 checks on the airport amongst those that arrived since early January. Inside the bubble, there have been 33 positives out of 336,400 checks. Not one of the positives concerned athletes. The typical time spent in isolation for many has been round six days.

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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Schooling. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.