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Beijing authorities warn residents not to try to help Olympic vehicles if they are involved in a road accident because of strict Covid controls

  • An isolation bubble is now in force for the 2022 Winter Games, which means residents of the Chinese capital must shun all contact with those involved
  • Vehicles involved in the Games have designated lanes and ‘professionals’ will be sent to deal with any road accidents that may happen

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The Winter Olympic Games village in Beijing is now inside the “closed loop” bubble. Photo: AFP
The Beijing city authorities have told residents to avoid all contact with Olympic vehicles, not even trying to help after a road accident, as the Chinese capital tightened its Covid-19 rules ahead of next month’s Winter Games.

The city’s traffic management bureau said on Sunday that residents who are involved in an accident with one of the vehicles ferrying athletes, coaches and officials should not ask drivers and passengers to get out but wait for “professionals” to arrive on the scene.

Last week Olympic officials and volunteers entered a “closed-loop” – designed to seal participants off from any outbreak in the outside world, and contain any cases among Olympic personnel within the isolation bubble.
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“To effectively prevent pandemic risks, overseas Olympic-related personnel and relevant domestic security personnel will be under full-process, fully closed, point-to-point closed-loop management,” the local police told Beijing Daily on Sunday.

The local government also called on residents to give way to vehicles carrying designated Olympic logos on the roads and keep their distance in the event of a road accident.

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Last month the organising committee announced that special lanes would be set aside for Olympic and Paralympic traffic between January 21 and March 16.

China has imposed ­stringent requirements for the Games, requiring everyone within the closed-loop to take daily coronavirus tests, banning overseas spectators and urging those attending not to shout or cheer in support of the athletes.

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