Malaysia eases Covid-19 testing and travel insurance regulations.

According to information from the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, starting May 1st, fully vaccinated tourists will no longer be required to undergo Covid-19 testing before departure and after arrival. This policy includes children under 12 years old, as well as those who have been infected with Covid-19 within 6 to 60 days prior to their arrival in Malaysia. Travel insurance will also no longer be a prerequisite for foreign nationals entering the country.

However, tourists who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are still required to take an RT-PCR test two days before departure. Additionally, travelers must undergo a rapid RTK-Ag test at a qualified facility within 24 hours of arriving in Malaysia and must quarantine for 5 days (those under 17 years old are exempt from quarantine).

Wearing masks outdoors is optional but mandatory in enclosed spaces, including shopping malls, offices, public transport, and ride-hailing services. However, mask-wearing is still encouraged in crowded places and for people at high risk of contracting Covid-19.

Social distancing rules have also been lifted, and people can now freely shake hands, but are advised to wash and sanitize their hands frequently.

In addition, scanning QR codes through the MySejahtera pandemic prevention app is no longer strictly required, but the MySJ Trace function is still recommended to be activated for contact tracing. Regardless of vaccination status, everyone will be allowed into facilities except those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and have been ordered to self-isolate at home.

Individuals testing positive for Covid-19 are still required to self-isolate for 7 days. Covid-19 test results and health assessments will be conducted via the MySejahtera app. However, those who test positive for Covid-19 may be released from isolation earlier if they receive a negative RTK-Ag rapid test result from a specialized facility on the fourth day.

Duc Huy