China is debating possible reduction to Covid quarantine for travelers: report

Chinese officials are debating whether to reduce the amount of time people coming into the country must spend in mandatory quarantine, Bloomberg reported today [Thursday], citing sources familiar with the discussions.

According to Bloomberg, bureaucrats “are looking at cutting the quarantine period to two days in a hotel and then five days at home,” said the sources.

Currently, China requires seven days of hotel room quarantine, followed by another three days at home, where people are still monitored and subjected to regular testing.
The move could be included “in a new iteration of the nation’s Covid-19 protocol expected to be released soon,” the sources, who asked not to be identified given the private nature of the discussions, told Bloomberg.

Authorities throughout China use the protocol to guide their response when new virus cases emerge.

The shift would need to be approved by senior leaders, “so [it] could still be altered or not deployed at all,” one of the sources said. The National Health Commission, which is responsible for the protocol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bloomberg pointed out that stocks linked to the nation’s reopening, including Air China Ltd. and China Eastern Airlines Corp., rose Thursday while oil advanced.

The possible change in mainland pandemic control policy follows the end of quarantine in Hong Kong and Taiwan, which are now open to foreign travelers.

Wednesday, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced a more attractive working visa to attract talent amid a brain drain in the neighboring SAR.

Macau Secretary for Culture and Social Affairs Elsie Ao Ieong also indicated Wednesday that the quarantine period for foreign motorcycle riders participating in the upcoming Grand Prix – slated for November 17 to 20 – may be reduced to “four or five days.”

Macau has now twice reduced the hotel quarantine period – from 14 to ten days and then to the current seven-day quarantine period during summertime.

Officials heard by the Times said that Macau will strictly follow mainland policy regarding Covid-19 control measures and not those of Hong Kong.