China to Lift Facility Quarantine Regulations for Overseas Arrivals Starting Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] China, which has begun easing COVID-19 quarantine measures, is reportedly set to abolish facility quarantine regulations for travelers arriving from overseas starting next month.

According to Bloomberg on the 22nd (local time), Chinese quarantine authorities are reviewing a '0+3' policy that eliminates the obligation for overseas arrivals to stay immediately at hotels or separate quarantine facilities and instead conduct monitoring for three days. Currently, China enforces a '5+3' policy requiring 5 days of facility quarantine followed by 3 days of self-quarantine for overseas arrivals.

It is reported that whether the 3-day monitoring will be conducted as self-quarantine at home and the exact implementation date have not yet been determined.

Earlier, Hong Kong Satellite TV also reported, "From January 3 next year, facility quarantine measures for overseas arrivals in Beijing will be abolished," adding, "Chinese authorities will optimize entry quarantine measures to '0+3' and fully open the borders."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Chinese government had implemented large-scale COVID testing and strict lockdown policies to maintain a 'zero COVID' strategy, but since early this month, it has shifted to a 'with COVID' policy aimed at reopening economic activities. Due to this rapid policy change, the number of confirmed COVID cases in China has reportedly surged explosively, and the death toll has also significantly increased. However, Chinese quarantine authorities have reported only 7 deaths over a two-week period, raising suspicions of death toll data concealment.

Experts express concern that the explosive increase in COVID cases in China raises the likelihood of the emergence of variant viruses with higher transmissibility and fatality rates. Daniel Lucey, a professor at Dartmouth College in the U.S., predicted, "Within days, weeks, or months, Omicron subvariants will appear in China," adding, "They could be more transmissible and deadly, and may evade drugs, vaccines, and COVID diagnostics." He emphasized, "The whole world must prepare to ensure vaccines, treatments, and other necessary measures can be implemented."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Chinese quarantine authorities to disclose reliable information.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "We are very concerned about the current increase in severe COVID cases in China," and added, "Detailed information on disease severity, bed availability, and the need for intensive care unit (ICU) support is necessary to comprehensively assess the risk of the current situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.