China Cuts Covid Quarantine Time For Intl Arrivals

China will halve to seven days its Covid-19 quarantine period for inbound travellers, with a further three days spent at home, health authorities said on Tuesday.

The change came in the National Health Commission's latest guideline on measures against the disease.

Following seven days spent in centralised facilities, travellers face three days of at-home medical observation, it added, versus seven previously.

Spokesperson for the National Health Commission Mi Feng at a press conference stressed that officials are not relaxing Covid measures.

“We have to make our containment measures more targeted. It doesn’t mean that we will lower our guard,” he said.

The announcement comes as Beijing, and the financial hub of Shanghai reported no new local Covid infections, the first time both cities were in the clear at the same time since late February, after months of fighting their worst-ever outbreaks.

The milestone for the two cities, achieved on Monday, came after their daily caseloads dropped to single digits over the past week, allowing Shanghai to gradually resume eating in at restaurants and Beijing to reopen some leisure venues including the Universal Beijing Resort.

The Shanghai Disney Resort also said on Tuesday it will reopen Disneyland theme park on June 30.

"The magic is back!" the company said on its Weibo account.

The Resort reopened Disneytown and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel on June 16.

Shanghai Disney Resort has been closed since March 21.

Fresh waves of Covid-19 cases since March prompted the Chinese government to adopt stringent measures to cut off the spread, including shutting numerous public venues. (Additional reporting by Reuters)