China will end mandatory quarantines upon arrival in the country on January 8, the health authorities announced on Monday, after the lifting in early December of most of the anti-Covid measures in force since 2020.
Starting next month, only a negative test within 48 hours will be required to enter Chinese territory, the Health Commission, which acts as a ministry, said in a notice.
China is the only major economy that has continued to impose quarantines on arrival in its territory that particularly penalize tourism, although their duration has been reduced in recent months.
Currently it is 5 days in the hotel, followed by 3 days of observation at home.
A gradual relaxation
The Health Commission has indicated that it no longer considers Covid-19 a “pneumonia” but a less dangerous “contagious” disease.
In June, China had already halved the duration of the mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving in the country: it was cut to 10 days, up from 21 previously.
However, the country’s borders have been almost completely closed since the beginning of 2020. China has stopped issuing tourist visas for almost three years and international air connections have been greatly reduced.
Source: BFM TV
