A range of social distancing measures will also be rolled back just in time for the start of Ramadan.

A bird’s-eye view of the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Melaka. (Photo: Lloyd Alozie/Unsplash)

Two years after shutting itself off from the world, Malaysia is set to end quarantines for all fully vaccinated travelers next month. Prime Minister Ismail Sabril announced the decision during a televised address yesterday evening, putting forward a definitive reopening date as the country begins the transition to an endemic phase of Covid-19. Border controls will be eased from April 1, two weeks after the creation of vaccinated travel lanes with Thailand and Cambodia.

International visitors must be cleared through a PCR test two days before departure and take a professionally administered rapid antigen test less than 24 hours following their arrival. No additional travel documents will be necessary, but travelers will have to complete a pre-departure form and download the MySejahtera contact tracing app. MyTravelPass, an online portal which tourists currently use to apply to enter the country, is being deactivated from April. There will be no restrictions on Malaysian nationals traveling to other countries that have reopened their borders in a similar fashion.

Authorities are also easing Covid-19 restrictions within Malaysia from the same date. All businesses will no longer face limits on occupancy and operating hours, while religious services can take place without physical distancing. Capacity rules on weddings and other large gatherings are due to be scrapped, though mask mandates in public places will still apply. Interstate travel will once again be possible for all people regardless of their vaccination status. Malaysia’s Omicron surge is beginning to ease as more residents get their third Covid-19 jab. According to statistics from the health ministry, just under 79 percent of the total population have been fully vaccinated, while 46 percent have received a booster shot.