Malaysia to operate special lanes for Chinese tourists at international entry points

Travelers from China who are symptomatic will be referred to health officials and must then undergo throat swabs as well as RTK-Antigen Covid-19 tests, said Malaysia's Health Ministry.

Malaysia has also stepped up screening measures for all travelers. Visitors entering Malaysia will be screened through a thermal scanner and those who are found to be ill or symptomatic, or who have made self-declarations, will undergo further examination.

The new measure came after China reopened its borders on Sunday after three years of a strict zero-Covid policy.

Before the pandemic, China was the third largest source of tourist arrivals in Malaysia, receiving about 3.1 million Chinese tourists in 2019, according to data from Tourism Malaysia.

Thailand, Southeast Asia's second largest economy, on Monday welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists post reopening, without any restrictions reported.

Vietnam's Lang Son Province has announced to take test samples from people crossing the border from China if they have any symptoms such as fever, coughing or difficulty breathing.