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Singapore (pte036/11.04.2003/14:04) - The Singapore government is introducing hightech measures to enforce quarantine regulations in the hopes of slowing down the SARS epidemic. People who may carry the disease and have been quarantined to their homes will now be monitored with the use of webcams installed by network supplier Cisco.
The number of people in Singapore confined to their homes due to SARS has now reached 490. Singapore has the fourth highest rate of infection. Under the new quarantine surveillance system, people suspected of having SARS will be asked to present themselves in front of the camera daily, as announced today by the Singapore Health Ministry http://www.gov.sg/moh .
Anyone who breaks the quarantine rule will receive written warning and be forced to wear an electronic surveillance bracelet. If the person suspected of carrying SARS leaves the house again, the authorities will be informed and further measures will be taken.
The government is introducing these measures after several people with SARS neglected to follow instructions for quarantine. In one case, a woman may have left her house and gone to see a doctor without informing anyone she may have been infected with SARS.
The health ministry has called such breaches of quarantine irresponsible, as they not only create a public health risk, but could lead to the spread of the disease in other hospitals. Since 24 March nine people are recorded as ignoring quarantine in spite of the threat of fines of up to 5,600 dollars.
Nine people have already died of the lung disease in Singapore. In China, over 2,800 people have become infected since November 2002, and 100 people in the world have died from the disease.
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