IOC defends high-sensitivity COVID tests at Beijing Games

The threshold cycle value (Ct) used in China to mark a COVID-19 infection in a screening test is 40. The higher this value, the less contagious a person is. In several places in Canada, it is set at 35. In the North American professional circuits, it is also 35 in the NFL, but 30 in the NBA and the NHL. It may be more difficult for someone recovering from a recent infection to test negative upon arrival in China for the Games after passing multiple drug tests upon departure. Dr. Brian McCloskey, chairman of the IOC medical council for these…