BY DARYLL LAW & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: Sarawak unleashed its surveillance technology to combat Covid-19, in its efforts to stem the spread of the virus.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the adoption of the digital method by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) is to assist the State Disaster Management Committee.
Uggah, who is also the Committee chairman, said the surveillance database identified as ‘Digital Tracking’ was intended to track those identified Covid-19 patients undergoing quarantine at home.
“The tracking system in the form of an application would enable the authority to track the patients and help them (patients) to comply with the requirements during their quarantine period and preventing the spread of the virus.
“While, the ‘Digital Mapping’ is introduced to identify the hotspot areas of the virus,” he said in press conference via live stream at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday.
When asked further on how the digital tracking and mapping system works, Uggah said the identified person would be given a tracking wristband and it would be linked to a tracking application provided by SMA to track the individuals’ movements.
“Whereas for the digital mapping, we will create a map to locate the past whereabouts of infected Covid-19 patients.
“For instance, on the pastor who passed away due to Covid-19, we want to know where he went before he was tested positive,” he said.
SDMC has identified several clusters as the source of the Covid-19 outbreak in the state.
Among them the Tabligh gathering, the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Good News Fellowship Church, Seek Truth and Justice DAP fundraising dinner on March 7 and the Josephian Day at SMK St Joseph on March 13.
