GEORGE TOWN – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has called on the Health Ministry to incorporate big data analytics to help the country contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have nine months of data to analyse what is done is right and if it has met the objectives,” he said, referring to the time from March, when the movement control order (MCO) was introduced, and December last year.
“We need to use technology to find the best approach to fight the virus,” Chow said, pointing to the importance of prediction-based measures based on recent trends and past data.
He said this after presenting aid on behalf of One Hope Charity & Welfare Bhd to selected recipients here today.
One Hope has allocated RM1.67 million to provide food hampers to the needy. Each recipient will get RM300 worth of food items to help them cope with the adverse economic conditions due to the poor economic conditions.
On complaints of maltreatment at the Balik Pulau Sports Complex, which was converted into a low-risk Covid-19 treatment and quarantine centre, Chow said that One Hope is not to be blamed as it only supplied the equipment that the health authorities sought.
He said that repairs have been done at the bathing stalls while the Malaysian patients have been relocated elsewhere to reduce the density at the premise.
He also confirmed that the proposed low-risk centre at the Pesta site in Sungai Nibong has been classified as inappropriate by health authorities.
Chow said he hopes the national Covid-19 management meeting tomorrow can reach a decision to strike a balance between protecting the economy and human lives, in view that the country continues to struggle to break the infection curve.
“There is a big challenge ahead, but we must overcome it,” he said.
Chow has directed the state executive councillors and the state financial officer to be ready with a new round of aid disbursement if there is a total lockdown in the state due to the rising cases.
Penang recorded a new high of 273 infections yesterday with the number of deaths now standing at 10. A total of 4,483 infections have been recorded in the state thus far – the highest in the northern region. – The Vibes, January 10, 2021
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