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SINGAPORE: More than 3,500 electronic wristband devices have been issued to travelers receiving stay-at-home advisories since Aug. 10, the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) said on Saturday (Sept. 12).
Under current rules, travelers entering Singapore and submitting stay-at-home notices outside of specialized facilities are required to use the devices. This initiative has been in place for just over a month.
It applies to all travelers, including Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass holders, work pass holders and their dependents, ICA, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Only children under 12 are exempt.
At Singapore checkpoints, eligible travelers receive both the electronic wrist device and an entry device after immigration clearance.
They are required to wear the wristband for the entire stay-at-home notice period and install the gateway device at their place of residence.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Deputy Commissioner (DAC) Tan Hoe Koon, who is deputy director of ICA’s intelligence division, said that as Singapore’s borders are reopened, ICA expects the number of travelers served with notices to increase. of staying home.
ICA has issued a total of 162,668 stay-at-home notices as of 8 a.m. Sept. 12, of which 14,053 are active, ICA said.
READ: COVID-19: Travelers who deliver an off-site stay-at-home notice after entering Singapore must use an electronic device
“As our borders reopen, we will expect more people to return and receive stay-at-home notices. As this number increases, we need to manage our resources and the electronic monitoring device allows us to monitor the regime of application of notices. stay at home more effectively, “he said.
Previously, compliance efforts focused on sending daily text messages and making audio and video calls, DAC Tan said. Home visits were also conducted at least every alternate day.
But with the electronic monitoring regime, checks are only done shortly after these travelers return to Singapore to make sure they have successfully registered the devices and put on the wristbands properly and safely, DAC Tan said.
Officers make subsequent visits only when necessary, or if they suspect stay-at-home notice requirements are violated, he added.
“It’s less labor-dependent … when the number of people we serve with stay-at-home notices increases with the reopening of our borders, the same amount of resources can be used to manage a larger group of people served with notices, “said DAC Tan.
The bracelet and the gateway device communicate with each other via Bluetooth, and the gateway device sends signals to the ICA back-end server.
READ: ‘As a Mediator’: From Spot Checks to Investigating Violations, Here’s How ICA Officers Enforce Stay-at-Home Notices
The user’s phone also sends GPS signals to the server. If the person leaves the home, the GPS signals on the user’s phone will tell ICA officials approximately where the person is.
“We observe the data that enters the system, particularly the triggered alerts … Any attempt to leave the place of residence or tamper with your electronic devices will trigger an alert in our ICA system, after which we will conduct our follow-up investigations,” explained the superintendent. deputy (ASP) Zhang Chengyao, who is an analyst.
These follow-ups can be in the form of calls, but officers can also conduct home visits to make sure there are no problems.
Since the scheme was implemented, DAC Tan said some “technical issues” have been noted. Most of the time, the problems relate to reception at the individual’s place of residence, he said.
About 5 to 10 percent of those who received the bracelets have experienced technical or connectivity issues, DAC Tan noted.
“We experienced some PSHNs (people posted on stay-at-home notices) that may be in locations that have poorer reception. Therefore, their devices may have intermittent connectivity issues,” he said.
“So when there are connectivity issues and we cannot receive the data, there will be alerts (sent) … But when we call them, they are actually at home and we realize that they are facing some connectivity issues with the devices. And we will really advise them on how to place their devices (gateway) in a more ideal situation in the residence, so that the signal (and the) reception can be improved “.
After submitting their stay-at-home notice, travelers must deactivate the device and dispose of it or return it.
Those caught violating the stay-at-home notice requirements or tampering with the device can be fined up to S $ 10,000 and jailed for up to six months.
For foreigners, the authorities can take “new administrative actions”, such as revoking or shortening the validity of permits and passes to stay or work in Singapore.
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