China to Open Borders Despite Surge in Covid-19 Cases

Chinese health authorities plan to lift Covid-19 quarantine restrictions on international arrivals, part of a broader relaxation in how the deadly disease will be classified for treatment, even as case numbers remain high.

China has maintained among the world’s most restrictive coronavirus lockdown measures, slowing its economy significantly and sparking anger. Following waves of protests this fall, authorities abruptly abandoned the country’s stringent zero-Covid-19 strategy early this month.

From Jan. 8, China will scrap all quarantine measures for Covid-19, including requirements for inbound visitors, both foreigners and Chinese nationals, according to the National Health Commission.

The commission late Monday issued a plan to stop treating Covid-19 as a “Class A” infectious disease, which demands stringent control measures, and downgrade the management of the virus to “Class B,” which requires more basic treatment and prevention. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that China was weighing such a move, which would give it room to further loosen public-health measures.