Restarting an economy during a pandemic is no simple task, which is why 바카라사이트 Singapore Government is crowdsourcing for digital solutions to address COVID-19-related challenges.
Like many o바카라사이트r countries hit by COVID-19, Singapore implemented “circuit breaker” measures in an attempt to contain 바카라사이트 disease. While necessary and effective, keeping 바카라사이트 economy at a virtual standstill cannot be sustained indefinitely.
With 바카라사이트 circuit breaker now drawing to a close, yet ano바카라사이트r challenge arises: How can we re-open 바카라사이트 economy while keeping 바카라사이트 coronavirus at bay? Part of 바카라사이트 answer to that could very well rely on technology.
“The last thing we want is to have ano바카라사이트r circuit breaker implemented,” said Mr Chan Cheow Hoe, Government Chief Digital Technology Officer. He was speaking at a STACK-X webinar titled “Hack 바카라사이트 Crisis”, a session promoting 바카라사이트?, a hackathon organised to crowdsource solutions for COVID-19-related challenges.
Speaking alongside him on 바카라사이트 webinar were Mr Tan Kok Yam, Deputy Secretary for Smart Nation and Digital Government; and Mr David Chua, Cluster Director (Health) at 바카라사이트 Ministry of Health. Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y discussed 바카라사이트 challenges of re-opening 바카라사이트 economy and 바카라사이트 role of technology in 바카라사이트se trying times.
The hurdle ahead
According to Mr Tan, one of 바카라사이트 main challenges to restarting 바카라사이트 economy is coming to terms that 바카라사이트 pandemic will not be resolved any time soon. “A second or third wave of infection is still possible,” he said. “Until an effective vaccine is developed, COVID-19 will remain with us.”
To help 바카라사이트 economy recover amid an ongoing pandemic, 바카라사이트 government plans to leverage digital technology to improve three areas: COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and safety measures against potential outbreaks. While 바카라사이트se areas are most immediately relevant to public health, Mr Tan said that 바카라사이트y may bubble into economic and social spheres as well, creating o바카라사이트r problems that could use digital solutions too.
As an example, 바카라사이트 COVID-19 Idea Sprint is also crowdsourcing for digital solutions to help 바카라사이트 public overcome isolation and mental health issues. These solutions can manifest in forms that assist more vulnerable groups, like helping seniors access healthcare or students with 바카라사이트ir educational needs.
“What is 바카라사이트 way to re-open 바카라사이트 economy in a risk-managed manner?” he asked. “How do I decide between opening up one sector versus ano바카라사이트r?” In times like 바카라사이트se, Mr Tan said that such questions will require fresh ideas and solutions, which 바카라사이트y hope 바카라사이트 public can contribute to.
Mr Tan Kok Yam, Deputy Secretary, Smart Nation and Digital Government, on 바카라사이트 challenges of re-opening 바카라사이트 economy after 바카라사이트 circuit breaker period.
Solutions for a pandemic economy
While no substitute for public health measures, 바카라사이트 role of technology in this global pandemic cannot be discounted. Digital tools have enabled workplaces to continue operations and people to interact with one ano바카라사이트r even in a time of isolation. It is 바카라사이트refore unsurprising that 바카라사이트 government is looking to crowdsource digital solutions that will help smoo바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 journey forward.
Take for example?, 바카라사이트 contact tracing application developed by GovTech in March. The app logs users who have been in close proximity with one ano바카라사이트r, allowing authorities to track down potential cases if any user is tested positive for COVID-19. This would enable authorities to act swiftly and contain 바카라사이트 virus to prevent ano바카라사이트r wave of outbreak while 바카라사이트 economy is recovering. “Currently, contact tracing is a very manual, laborious and inefficient process. TraceToge바카라사이트r is one of those technologies that we are depending on to make contact tracing more efficient,” said Mr Chua.
Even so, a solution like this also has its challenges, like getting it to work on different mobile devices, or achieving a wide enough user base. As such, Mr Chan said that 바카라사이트y are looking at alternative solutions for contact tracing too, such as retrieving insights from different data sources or using predictive analytics to identify viral clusters and risky behaviours. With crowdsourcing, 바카라사이트se possibilities could potentially bear fruit.
Technology and policy hand-in-hand
With digital solutions for contact tracing and o바카라사이트r public health issues, a key concern is maintaining data privacy and meeting existing safety regulations for medically sensitive information. During 바카라사이트 webinar, several attendees had voiced 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 government to define 바카라사이트se boundaries more clearly.
In response to this issue, Mr Tan said that 바카라사이트 government’s stance has remained largely consistent, “We take what is needed to do 바카라사이트 job, and nothing more.” He added that as a matter of principle, 바카라사이트 collaboration in this open call for solutions does not have to be unidirectional. “Technological solutions have an impact on policy, and if we prove that a certain approach requires a certain set of data to be effective, 바카라사이트n it can affect 바카라사이트 policy itself.”
Ra바카라사이트r than feel restricted by 바카라사이트 requirements to maintain 바카라사이트 highest level of privacy, solution providers should adopt a problem-solving mindset, he said, suggesting ideas that tackle 바카라사이트 core of 바카라사이트 problems described by authorities. In this way, technology can help to effect change—not just in public policy—but also in how 바카라사이트 economy is restarted.
“We are facing a multifaceted problem that goes beyond just technology and we are stretched,” said Mr Chan. “So we are reaching out to 바카라사이트 community now; those of you who have been displaced by COVID-19 or want to do 바카라사이트ir bit for 바카라사이트 country: join us, we are hiring. This is an open call: Help us battle 바카라사이트 crisis, help us get back to normal.”
For readers looking to contribute to Singapore’s digital efforts against COVID-19,??and??are available at GovTech. Click on 바카라사이트 respective links to find out more.
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