China slashes covid quarantine for travelers, but remains outlier

China has slashed its mandatory quarantine for inbound travelers and close contacts by half, in the most dramatic change to the country’s covid-19 policy since the start of the pandemic.

According to a statement released by China’s Health Commission on Tuesday, travelers and close contacts will now spend seven days in a quarantine facility and self-monitor at home for three days. In some parts of China, 21 days of isolation, sometimes across two separate locations, is still a norm. In most parts, however, quarantine was limited to 14 days.