MP urges govt to use Hide detection system so people can exercise

 

Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming has urged the government to use the Hotspot Identification by Dynamic Engagement (Hide) detection system to determine guidelines on whether people can exercise outdoors or dine-in during the third movement control order (MCO 3.0) period.

This came after outdoor exercise and dining at restaurants were banned following the implementation of the order issued amid another surge of Covid-19 infections.  

The government had touted the Hide system as being able to predict whether certain premises or areas might turn into a Covid-19 hotspot.

This is done through forward and backward contact tracing propelled by big data analysis and artificial intelligence.

Ong said with Hide in place, the government should analyse past data and identify how many clusters were a result of exercising outdoors or at gyms, or even watching movies at the cinema.

"If the number of clusters is not large - which I think will be the case - then the National Security Council (NSC) should immediately reverse the ban on outdoor jogging and exercise and allow gyms and cinemas to re-open with the already strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place.

"The same kind of analysis should also be conducted by Hide for other economic activities such as dining in for restaurants," he said in a statement today.

He added that restaurants and outlets that have been the source of Covid-19 clusters in the past should be investigated and shut down temporarily if SOPs were not strictly followed.

Ong said it did not make sense for the government to take a "one-size-fits-all" approach when a hotspot prediction system is already in place.

Hide was jointly developed by Bank Negara and the Health Ministry.

The MCO is in force in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, and parts of Selangor, Johor, Perak, Terengganu, and Kedah.

Infectious diseases experts have criticised the outdoor exercise ruling, saying that the likelihood of Covid-19 transmission from activities like jogging is much lower compared to contracting the virus indoors. - Mkini

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