China slashes quarantine time for international arrivals to 5 days
- Threshold also dropped for positive PCR tests among major changes to the country’s zero-Covid measures
- Travellers can now visit with just one negative test 48 hours before boarding their flights
The newly released measures include ending the practice of cancelling international flights if too many passengers from previous flights test positive on arrival – the major barrier to visiting China – the State Council’s Covid-19 prevention team said.
This will allow more international flights which should lead to a fall in prices.
Arriving travellers will now be allowed to enter the country after showing just one negative PCR test within the 48 hours before boarding. The cycle threshold for a negative PCR test will be also be dropped, from 40 to 35.
An easing of restrictions was also announced within China, with the length of time spent in central quarantine for close contacts reduced to five days, instead of the previous seven.
However, the three days of home health monitoring that follows has been changed to a stricter home quarantine, meaning the contacts will no longer be allowed to leave home during that period.
Close contacts of people who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive will no longer have to undergo quarantine and medical surveillance.
