China to End Quarantine For Inbound Travellers From Jan 8

Beijing: China’s National Health Commission announced on Monday that it will stop requiring incoming travellers to undergo quarantine from January 8 in a significant move to loosen restrictions on its borders, which have been largely closed since 2020.

The health authority announced in a statement that China’s management of Covid-19 will also be downgraded to the less stringent Category B from the present top-level Category A because the disease has become less virulent and will eventually turn into a typical respiratory infection.

China’s economy has been pummelling for three years by zero-tolerance policies, including border closures and frequent lockdowns. Last month saw the largest mainland demonstration of public discontent since President Xi Jinping assumed office in 2012.

However, China abruptly changed its policy last month, eliminating almost all of its domestic Covid restrictions. As a result, hospitals across the nation are now struggling to deal with a widespread outbreak of infections.

Inbound travellers were nevertheless subject to stringent regulations, which included a five-day quarantine requirement at a facility under government supervision and a further three days of isolation at home.

Beginning on January 8, both that constraint and the one on the number of passengers on overseas flights will be lifted. However, the health administration noted that 48 hours prior to departure, PCR testing will still be required of visitors entering China.

Further, the Commission stated that epidemic prevention and control methods at important institutions, such as old-age care institutions, will be improved even though China downgrades its management of the novel coronavirus.

According to the authority, if an outbreak worsens, the institution will implement so-called “closed management” to stop the spread of the disease.

China will also push second vaccinations among those at high risk of serious illness and continue to raise the vaccination rate among the elderly.

The $17 trillion economy’s growth rate had been lowered by its containment measures to its weakest level in nearly 50 years, affecting international trade and supply lines.