Covid Case in Beijing Olympic Bubble Is Linked to a German Team – The New York Times

A supervisor in Germanys Olympic delegation has tested positive for the coronavirus within the closed loop in Beijing, the German Olympic Sports Confederation said on Thursday, confirming one of the first cases connected to an athletic team within the bubblelike environment meant to shield participants from the rest of the world.

The positive case was identified on Sunday after a P.C.R. test administered in Zhangjiakou, where many of the snow events will take place about 100 miles northwest of Beijing, the confederation said. The supervisor is asymptomatic and is currently in a quarantine hotel, it said.

Beijing officials said on Thursday that eight new cases had been detected in the bubble as of the previous day. Fifteen others were found among airport arrivals of Games-related personnel. None were linked to an athlete or a team official.

Since Jan. 4, 50 cases have been identified in the closed loop, according to official data. Officials have linked one of them to an athlete or team official. Among airport arrivals, 79 cases have been detected, data show. One was an athlete or team official, and the rest were other stakeholders, officials said.

Some athletes, including those from the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Norway, have received positive tests before departing for the Olympics, resulting in delayed travel and throwing into question their chance of competing in the Games.

Josh Williamson, an athlete of the Team USA bobsled team, said on Instagram on Wednesday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday and would not board the rest of the delegations flight to Beijing on Thursday.

One athlete, the Russian figure skater Mikhail Kolyada, was withdrawn from his team after testing positive, the Olympics committee said on Tuesday.

The Games are scheduled to start on Feb. 4.

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Covid Case in Beijing Olympic Bubble Is Linked to a German Team - The New York Times