What’s new: Some quarantine sites in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu shortened the quarantine period for inbound travelers, though no official change was announced, according to travelers.
Several people arriving at a Chengdu hotel from overseas said they received notice Tuesday and Wednesday that they needed to quarantine at the hotel for only two days and then stay at home for three days rather than comply with the official five-day mandatory centralized quarantine followed by three days of home isolation.
One traveler who arrived in Chengdu from overseas Dec. 18 said she went home after staying two days at the hotel and signing a home quarantine application. The hotel refunded her for three days of expenses, the traveler said.
But the official policy of five days of centralized quarantine and three days at home, known as the “5+3” policy, remains in effect, according to the health authority telephone hotline of the city of 16.33 million.
A staff member at the hotline said arriving travelers called to complain about different policies at different quarantine sites. Some quarantine sites might test a shortened requirement, the staff member said.
The background: Since early December, major cities across China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu have eased local Covid-19 restrictions on travel and quarantine after the country announced sweeping changes to its virus control regime.
Expectations of further easing have been escalating in recent days. China could drop its mandatory quarantine for foreign arrivals as early as Jan. 3, Hong Kong Satellite Television reported Wednesday, without citing any source. Chinese mainland health authorities did not respond to Caixin calls seeking confirmation of the report.
Beijing, Hangzhou, Xiamen and Shanghai still implement the "5+3" quarantine policy and have not announced any changes.
Contact reporter Denise Jia (huijuanjia@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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