Medical expert heaps praise on closed-loop system

Comprehensive testing ‘reliable and efficient’

Brian McCloskey, chair of the Beijing 2022 Medical Expert Panel (MEP), has praised the Games’ closed loop as a highly effective way to minimize the risks surrounding COVID-19.

The system separates all Olympic personnel and participants from the local population, and McCloskey insists the early indications are encouraging.

“I think my experience of the closed-loop system so far has left me very impressed. It is very efficient and I believe we can rely on it,” McCloskey told a news conference on Saturday at Beijing 2022’s Main Media Center.

McCloskey explained that Beijing 2022 has developed three layers of protection to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The first is the testing on departure. The second is the testing at the airport, and the third is the testing inside the closed-loop system,” he said.

According to Olympics.com, Beijing 2022 participants need to follow clear COVID-19 testing rules before and after entering China, as well as providing at least two negative tests within 96 and 72 hours prior to departure, before again being tested immediately upon arrival.

Games participants are asked to undergo a PCR test at the airport, where trained staff take throat and nose swab samples which are combined for analysis.

Additionally, participants will be PCR-tested daily for COVID-19 to minimize the risk of undetected cases. Medical personnel will take throat swabs at sample collection sites at the Olympic Villages and other venues.

The PCR tests used by Beijing 2022 remain the gold standard for detecting COVID-19 infections. During the Games, these tests will be processed by laboratories which work with international-standard reagents and high-quality devices.

Along with vaccination and the closed-loop system, organizers say the comprehensive COVID-19 testing is a key measure to ensure safe and successful Games.

“We would expect to see the number of the positive tests through each of those layers as people move through that system. The other issue is that we are going through the peak period of people arriving in China, and therefore we expect to see the highest number at this stage,” said McCloskey.

Containing the virus is a daunting task due to the sheer number of athletes, staff and media entering China for the Olympics.

“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of having positive cases among the participants of the Winter Olympics is very high. In some cities of China, we can see the emergence of positive cases, including Omicron cases,” said Huang Chun, deputy director-general of Beijing 2022’s Pandemic Prevention and Control Office.

“As far as I know, the positive cases in Beijing recently are mostly Delta cases. Thanks to the decisive actions of the Beijing municipal government, the pandemic situation in the city is getting better, and we believe within a few days, it will be fully contained,” he said.

“In terms of the fear of whether the virus outside the city will spread into the closed-loop system or the other way around, we will continue to conduct the strict closed-loop system management and have frequent testing. So we can detect the positive cases in the first instance and cut the spread of the virus.”

McCloskey stressed that certain rules could be adjusted based on how the situation evolves, but he remains confident that the system’s current mode of operation is sufficient to combat the virus.

“COVID is something unpredictable. Therefore you always need to be ready to review plans, change plans and monitor it closely. We are confident that the system in place is the right system. What we have seen so far is it’s working well and is expected to continue to work well.”

Meanwhile, Huang outright rejected foreign media reports that suggested China could manipulate COVID-19 test results in order to influence competition results during the Games.

He stressed that all COVID-19 tests inside the closed loop are PCR tests, which are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as well as medical experts from home and abroad.

“For the testing, we selected qualified laboratories. They’ve been recognized by public health authorities in China. Equipped with accredited testing reagents and equipment, they follow standard and strict procedures in testing and have a comprehensive management system to ensure quality and biosafety. Medical personnel in sampling and testing, all with professional backgrounds, have gone through training before performing their tasks,” he said.

Huang added that Chinese authorities frequently visit those laboratories to review their quality as well as safety, and a positive result will only be confirmed by a second test.

McCloskey also confirmed that tests conducted at Beijing 2022 are up to international standards and follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).

“I want all athletes and stakeholders to feel assured,” Huang added. “There is really no need to question the credibility of our systems.”

Brian McCloskey, chair of the Beijing 2022 Medical Expert Panel, says that the three layers of protection offered by the Winter Olympics’ closed-loop management system are highly effective at minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.