What are the COVID testing rules at the Beijing Winter Olympics and what happens if athletes test postive?

In a dramatic turn of events, the Australian curling team have secured their first win at the Winter Olympics after they were set to fly out of China.

Australian curlers Tahli Gilland Dean Hewitt thought they were on the way home after Gill presented a positive COVID-19 test.

However, the Medical Expert Panel (MEP) in Beijing decided to let them stay and compete.

Here's why. 

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), «participants need to have at least two negative pre-departure tests within 96 and 72 hours prior to their departure, [and] they will immediately be tested upon arrival».

Games participants are also asked to take a PCR test at the airport and are PCR-tested daily in Beijing.

The IOC said: «Athletes and Games participants who test positive and are asymptomatic will be discharged from isolation once they have two consecutive negative PCR test results 24 hours apart.»

But «unclear situations following confirmed positive tests can be reviewed by the MEP».

The MEP's assessment will include «a comprehensive evaluation of each individual’s previous history of vaccination, testing and infection as well as their environment».

The MEP is composed of 20 members. 

The ICO said it includes a «combination of virologists, public health and infectious disease experts from China and around the world, including representatives of the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the International Winter Sports Federations».

The panel ischaired by Dr Brian McCloskey. 

One of the things the MEP will consider when determining if an athlete can compete, despite being COVID-positive, are the cycle threshold (Ct) values.

As the Australian Olympic Committee explained in a statement: 

«The MEP examined