China "Overseas Arrivals Facility Quarantine Regulations to Be Lifted from Next Month 8"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] China, which has begun easing COVID-19 lockdowns, will abolish the mandatory facility quarantine for overseas arrivals.

The National Health Commission of China announced on the 26th that this measure will be implemented starting January 8 next year.

Currently, China enforces a '5+3' policy requiring 5 days of facility quarantine and 3 days of self-quarantine for overseas arrivals. With this regulatory relaxation, overseas arrivals are expected to undergo home quarantine or health monitoring for a certain period without staying at hotels or separate quarantine facilities.

However, a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate must be obtained within 48 hours before departure. The PCR test requirement applied after entering China will be abolished.

Chinese epidemic prevention authorities plan to expand medical facilities such as ventilators and intensive care units to strengthen treatment for severe patients and convert quarantine facilities into hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The National Health Commission stated, "We will continue to monitor the spread of the coronavirus" and "We will take appropriate measures to suppress the peak of COVID-19 outbreaks." It added, "The new coronavirus will remain in nature for a longer time" and "It will become much less fatal than before and gradually turn into a common respiratory illness."

Additionally, Chinese epidemic prevention authorities decided to change the official COVID-19 name from 'Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia' to 'Novel Coronavirus Infection.'

China fully shifted from the 'Zero COVID' policy to a 'With COVID' policy aimed at reopening economic activities earlier this month. It is reported that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths is increasing significantly within China.

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