China eased its Covid-19 policy with a shorter quarantine time of days for close contact cases and inbound travelers and scrapping penalties on airlines for bringing in infected passengers.
The new rules that set markets across the region to soar, were among the 20 measures prepared by the new top leadership of the ruling communist party, amid a new push to optimise and control Covid-19 controls.
Among the new rules include slashing quarantine to five days for close contact at centralised location and 3 days at home, from seven days centralised and 3 days home quarantine.
A similar shortening of quarantine rules was made for inbound travellers, according to the revised rules, which the National Health Commission (NHC) published on its website.
The suspension of international flight routes due to the detection of infected passengers was also abolished, while for inbound travellers, the pre-departure COVID-19 test requirement was cut to once in 48 hours from twice.
Secondary close contacts would also no longer have to be identified although close contacts would still be, the health authority said.
In a statement issued, the National Health Commission the measures are needed to minimise the impact on the economy and at the same time not relaxing on outbreak clampdowns.
