BEIJING, (Reuters) – Beijing has reported 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Beijing on Wednesday. This is the most recent day-to-day count for the current epidemic, and comes less than two weeks ahead of the Winter Olympics, which will be held in Beijing and Hebei.

Data from the National Health Commission revealed that Tuesday’s report of confirmed domestically-transmitted infections in Beijing accounted for more than half the total 24 cases.

Beijing detected 55 cases of symptoms in Beijing since January 15, both with the Omicron as well as Delta variants.

Although the number of cases is much lower than other places in the world, the city put thousands of residents under lockdown and has tested several million people to stop transmission.

Beijing is following a national policy to reduce virus outbreaks as quickly as possible. This urgency becomes more urgent as China pledges to host the Winter Olympics Games safely and to prevent any major outbreaks in the Lunar New Year travel period.

NHC data revealed that, aside from Beijing, Heilongjiang and Hebei as well as Guangdong, Guangdong, Henan, Liaoning and Henan reported sporadic local symptoms on Tuesday.

State television reported late Tuesday that two Omicron-infected individuals were discovered in Horgos City of Xinjiang. They had not been seen in the city for two weeks, and it was unclear where the virus originated.

China has now reached 4,636 deaths from pandemics, with no additional deaths reported on Tuesday.

China has reported total of 105.749 confirmed cases as of Jan. 25. This includes both those coming from within the country and foreigners.

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