China announced late Monday that travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival on the mainland starting Jan. 8.
The forthcoming shift follows an abrupt relaxation this month in domestic Covid controls. The changes end the bulk of the most restrictive measures that China had imposed for nearly three years under its zero-Covid policy.
Since March 2020, travelers to the mainland have had to quarantine, typically at a designated hotel and for 14 days. That isolation period subsequently began to increase to 21 days or more for some travelers, before China began cutting quarantine times this summer.
Current policy requires five days of quarantine at a centralized facility, followed by three days at home.
China’s National Health Commission also said that effective Jan. 8, authorities would stop tracking close contacts of Covid patients, halt the designation of Covid risk areas and cancel Covid measures that had slowed the import of goods.
The commission said travelers to China would only need to show a negative virus test from within the last 48 hours, and wouldn’t have to apply for a clear health code anymore. While on the flight, passengers would need to still wear a face mask, the announcement said…
