China, known for its strict zero-tolerance policy for COVID-19 since day one, inched closer towards pre-pandemic normality on Friday (November 11).
Close contacts of those who test positive for the virus now only need to quarantine for five days instead of seven at a ‘centralised location’, followed by three days’ isolation at home, according to Reuters. In addition, secondary contacts of positive cases are no longer traced by officials and no longer expected to quarantine.
International arrivals also only need to quarantine for eight days on arrival, down from ten. They must still show a negative COVID test obtained within 48 hours before departure, but only one, down from the previous mandate of two negative tests.
No more punishment for airlines
China’s ‘circuit breaker’ rule has also been rescinded, meaning that airlines no longer need to fear being penalised for arriving with passengers who test positive for the virus.
Previously, if 4% or more of a flight’s passengers tested positive on arrival, the airline was hit with a single flight suspension on that route; 8% or more positive cases meant the airline was given two flight suspensions by Chinese authorities.
Many travellers had to wait several weeks or even months before finding seats on a flight to China as a result, says Euronews. The regulation meant that a total of 26 flights operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines were cancelled in August 2022.
