BEIJING (Reuters). Organizers for the Beijing Winter Olympics relaxed COVID-19 rules slightly. However, authorities warned of seasonal air pollution and emphasized that athletes should not be tripped by positive COVID-19 tests.

On Monday, The International Olympic Committee announced that the IOC had made changes. These included the removal of the COVID-19 threshold from PCR tests. Also, the seven-day period during which someone is considered a close friend was reduced to seven from fourteen days.

These changes are immediate and retroactive and take effect immediately, according to the IOC in a statement.

Although China is trying to limit local flare ups of COVID-19 in China, the Games rules were slightly relaxed despite four additional Chinese provinces discovering infections due to the Beijing cluster.

In addition, organizers began to report data about positive COVID-19 testing among Games-related staff. From Jan. 4 through Jan. 23, 177 cases were confirmed among the 3,115 international arrivals. Only one was an athlete, support staffer or coach, according to Beijing2022 data, released Sunday and Monday.

Some officials from China have expressed concern about athletes who are recovering from coronavirus being prevented from taking part in COVID-19’s rigorous COVID-19 protocol.

These changes will mean that participants with PCR results showing a CT of 35 or less are now considered to be positive. Brian McCloskey (Games’ medical chief) stated that previously, the CT threshold of 40 was used to designate those who were positive.

Games take place between February 4 and 20 in a closed loop bubble that isolates personnel from the general public. It is part of China’s Zero-Tolerance COVID-19 policy, which effectively closes its borders to international visitors.

The global outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant is prompting final preparations. Organisers stated last week that the public would not be able to purchase tickets.

SMOG WARNING

On Monday, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment said that the weather conditions in winter are “very unfavourable”.

Beijing was covered in thick smog for several days, and the concentrations of dangerous airborne particles called PM2.5 (205 micrograms per cubic metres) on Monday morning had been at their highest level since January 1. Levels of PM2.5 should be no higher than 5, according to the World Health Organization.

China has won the bid for the Winter Olympics 2015. Authorities have tightened vehicle fuel regulations, closed polluting businesses, and reduced coal consumption to try and make these Games more “green”.

Liu Youbin, spokesperson for the environment ministry said Monday that authorities will pursue pollutors in Beijing and neighboring Hebei provinces if they are concerned about heavy pollution. This is to make sure that the Olympics go ahead in good health.

Along with COVID-19’s pollution and preparations for Games were hampered by the diplomatic boycott by some countries, including the United States, over China’s human rights record. China claims that this betrays Olympic principles, and denies any rights abuses.