China cut in half the time it takes for new arrivals to be isolated from the rest of the world in what is the biggest shift yet in a policy that has left the world's second-largest economy isolated.
Travelers to the country must stay in a centralized quark for seven days and be closely monitored for three days at home according to a government protocol released Tuesday. People in China used to have to stay in a hotel for up to 21 days.
The news made investors feel better. The CSI 300 gained 0.7% as of 3:20 p.m. in Shanghai, with hotel and airline stocks leading the way. After the news, futures contracts on the S&P 500 extended their gains to 2.5%.
The testing requirement was reduced. Travelers are only required to give throat swabs now that the laboratory tests that used to be required have been eliminated. There was no mention of vaccine requirements in the new guidelines.
The National Health Commission wants to increase vaccine and booster rates for people over the age of 60 who are at high risk of severe disease.
The assistance was given by John Liu.
(Adds market reaction in the third paragraph, details on vaccination in the fifth paragraph)
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