The Singapore government has turned to online cameras to
enforce home quarantine of people suspected of being infected with
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).The city-state, with a population density of
around 6,000 people per square kilometre, has been badly hit by the
highly infectious virus, and has applied home quarantine orders to
490 people, mostly people who have been in contact with diagnosed
Sars victims.
Following some cases where home quarantine was
flouted, the Ministry of Health has ordered that electronic cameras
be fitted at the homes of people served with home quarantine
orders.
People under quarantine orders will be called
at random times each day and asked to turn on the camera and
present themselves in front of the camera to show their presence.
Anyone found breaking the quarantine will be served a written
warning and given an electronic wrist tag, the Ministry of Health
said in a statement.
The tag is linked to a telephone line and will
alert the authorities if the person leaves the house again or tries
to break the tag.
"We are facing an unprecedented situation,"
said Lee Boon Yang, minister for manpower. "We are dealing with a
serious unseen threat. By working together in tackling Sars, we
will enable life and businesses to continue with measures to
safeguard our workers and citizens."
Singapore is well established as a regional
centre for exhibitions and conferences, but the Sars scare has
caused show organisers to scale back their plans. Research company
IDC will replace all its overseas speakers at the upcoming
Directions conference in Singapore with local speakers.
In Hong Kong, which has been even harder hit
by Sars, the conference will be webcast rather than run as a live
event, to protect the health of delegates, IDC said.