TOURISTS visiting Langkawi will no longer have to do a mandatory pre-departure Covid-19 test to enter the island, the ministry of health said today. 

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the decision, effective immediately, was made after positive cases were found in only 0.4% or 216 tourists out of 54,341 screened during the pilot travel bubble scheme from September 16 to October 10.

Tourists are instead encouraged to self-test before making their trip.

However, full vaccination will remain as a requirement for all tourists to the island,  said Khairy.

He said that since Langkawi opened to tourists last month, health authorities have not detected any clusters.

“For individuals who are confirmed positive and are in the period of isolation and monitoring, they are not allowed to travel,” he said.

This applies also to individuals identified as a close contact of a Covid-19-positive patient who is undergoing quarantine and under surveillance orders, he added. 

Khairy advised those who experience symptoms such as fever, cough and colds to postpone their trips. – October 12, 2021.