(Yicai Global) Dec. 21 -- There have been rumors of a shortening in the quarantine period for inbound travelers in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, though no official change has been announced yet.

An online rumor earlier this week said people arriving in Chengdu from overseas now only need to quarantine for two days in a designated place and three days at home. But the official policy is still five days in a designated place and three days at home, according to the city’s telephone hotline.

The rumors started after a person who landed in Chengdu from abroad was told on the third day of quarantine in a hotel that he was allowed to leave, but needed to sign a letter of commitment to promise to stay at home till the eighth day.

Hotels in the city that have been designated for quarantine are experimenting with shortening the quarantine period to two days, a staffer at the Chengdu Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center said, while adding that the division he works in has not received notice of any policy change from higher authorities.

Some hotels in Chengdu appear to have cut the quarantine time from five to two days, while increasing the number of days spent at home from three to six. But this has not yet been seen in other cities.

China announced on Dec. 17 an easing Covid-19 controls, including big changes in the requirements for testing and cross-provincial travel. But there have not yet been any official changes in quarantine procedures for people entering the country.

Editor: Tom Litting