Geo-fencing app to monitor Covid patients’ movements

KUALA LUMPUR: A geo-fencing app to monitor the movement of Covid-19 categories 1 and 2 patients and those under quarantine will soon be implemented to deter patients from moving around and reduce disease transmission.

The geo-fencing app, a pilot project by the Greater Klang Valley Special Task Force (GKV STF), will be activated today for those under the digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO), who were required to install the app on their mobile phones.

GKV STF Joint Department Commander Brigadier-General Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen on Friday said the app would be fully functional in the next 11 days, and was made compulsory for categories 1 and 2 patients, as well as those under quarantine.

Dr Arshil, who is the Armed Forces health services division head of management, said the geo-fencing app was an in-house app used by the armed forces’ Geo-spatial Defence Division and the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia.

It was for security purposes and its capability had been enhanced to help the Health Ministry.

Dr Arshil said the app was necessary to avoid a clash with the MySejahtera database, which might not reflect the actual location of those under quarantine.

It would enable monitoring teams to concentrate on the tracking exercise.

When it is activated, one’s movement will be displayed on surveillance dashboards at state and district disaster management operations’ room.

“This is our deterrent and enforcement measures.

“If people who had wristbands had no qualms about leaving their homes, what more those who are issued with the digital HSO?

“Asking people to be compliant is insufficient. That is where our digital enforcement will bridge the gap and ensure they follow the rules.

“We plan to put a radius area (to be decided on consensus) of 50m, 100m and 200m. But it will be practical.

“It is not going to be set at 10m so that the alarm goes off when you step out to throw rubbish. It will be decided by the team.”