GEORGE TOWN – Penang will use more technology in its battle against Covid-19, by giving more emphasis on video analysis from its wide range of CCTVs and drones to monitor crowds here.
Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said that local authorities will leverage on technology following a record-breaking 313 new cases today, with the previous high of 305 coming just a day earlier.
“We hope for the best but at the same time we must brace ourselves for the MCO (movement control order). We need to be vigilant and maintain our discipline (in following) standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he told a press conference here today.
He said that besides enhancing CCTVs, Penang will discuss the prospects of deploying its fleet of drones to monitor crowds and compliance with the SOPs.
Currently, the fleet flies over the skies to monitor illegal waste dumping.
He said this after visiting the Penang Island City Council’s intelligent operation centre (IOC) in Komtar.
He was accompanied by IOC engineer Tuti Azmalia Azai and the state secretariat’s local government representative Mohd Rizwan Rozi.
Currently, the state has 1,243 CCTVs on the island and another 242 CCTVs were installed in high-density localities in Prai, including in commercial and trading areas.
Out of the 1,243 CCTVs, 553 were upgraded with video analytics – 528 on the island and 25 on the mainland.
From the 528, 150 CCTVs on the island and 25 CCTVs on the mainland came with voice features which can help disperse crowds of people, said Jagdeep.
“Whenever the CCTVs capture the images of a crowd gathering in a certain location, an announcement will be made to remind them to observe social distancing.
“If they fail to disperse after three notices, enforcement officers will arrive at the scene to take action.
“With the use of CCTVs, we have seen a high level of compliance to SOPs. But this is inadequate and I plead for the people here to observe the SOPs,” said Jagdeep. – The Vibes, May 7, 2021
