Published: January 26th, 2022,
Last updated: January 26th, 2022
The Coronavirus has long been considered the main threat to the Beijing Winter Olympics. Now a well-known problem has been added: air pollution in the Chinese capital. Thick smog has hung over Beijing for days; particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceed 200 micrograms per cubic meter. The WHO recommends a level of 5 or less. Now, the Ministry of the Environment warned of persistently unfavorable weather conditions. These are typical for the transition from winter to spring, said ministry spokesman Liu Youbin. Only strong northern winds clear the winter air over Beijing; these currently do not seem to be in the forecast for the near future.