An Australian athlete has been identified as a COVID-19 close contact on the eve of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
But their competition isn't in jeopardy at this stage.
The unidentified athlete's close contact status follows that of an Australian Olympic team official, who was deemed a close contact of a COVID-19 case on their trip to Beijing.
Team chef de mission Geoff Lipshut said the athlete could continue to train, but faced tighter COVID-19 protocols such as additional testing and was isolated from their teammates and coaches.
"We are following the playbook procedure ... they have to travel in a vehicle on their own, they have to maintain a social distance from their coaches and teammates and they have to be in solo accommodation," said Lipshut, adding the athlete wasn't required to leave the team village.
"They have to can continue to train and prepare as normal but it's just in between doing their role that they have to isolate."
The athlete will be able to compete as long as they don't test positive, with a number of international stars such as women's ski-jumping gold medal favourite Austrian Marita Kramer forced to withdraw due to a COVID-19 infection.
US women's bobsled pilot Elana Meyers Taylor - a major threat to Australia's monobob medal hope Bree Walker - tested positive on Tuesday.
While the Australia athlete is the second close contact of a COVID-19 infection, mixed curler Tahli Gill tested positive on arrival into Beijing before being cleared in subsequent tests.
Gill and teammate Dean Hewitt had to isolate for two days before they were given the green light ahead of their competition starting on Wednesday night.
The Australian team is gearing up for Friday night's opening ceremony in Beijing.
