China has lifted mandatory quarantine rules for inbound travelers and allowed its citizens to head abroad, triggering a homecoming wave. The move comes amid a COVID-19 explosion across the nation, which has stoked global concerns.
As of Jan. 8, international visitors are free to enter China’s mainland and no longer need to undergo centralized quarantine at hotels. The border reopening amounts to the final step in dismantling the zero-COVID policy that has hammered the country’s economy and led to severe suffering among the populace.