The Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has rolled out a digital tracking device to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

According to SMA, the digital surveillance solution will give the state disaster management committee the “scalable capability” to monitor the disease at all points of entry in Sarawak.

Under the solution, all those entering Sarawak will be issued a QR-coded wristband based on two categories: person under investigation (PUI) and 14-day stay home notice.Wearers are required to report their situation twice daily by scanning their wristband’s QR code to submit the information.

“Data collated will allow the state disaster management committee to make informed decisions and to conduct random checks on the wearers.

“The wearers’ location will enable the committee to establish hotspots, a key strategy to curb further spread of the disease,” SMA general manager Zaidi Razak said in a statement.

He said various tracker systems had been deployed in China, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong where the data collected was crucial in managing the shape and evolution of the virus’ spread.

“We are confident that this system will make the task of managing the outbreak more effective and in a timely manner given the vastness of Sarawak.

“The development team has made tremendous achievement within a three-day period to come up with such a solution,” he added.

The state disaster management committee had earlier enlisted SMA to develop a digital system to track persons undergoing self-quarantine for Covid-19.

“Ultimately, this solution will be integrated into the ‘Permission to Enter/Exit’ system to effectively monitor Sarawak’s entry points,” Zaidi said.