On Twitter and the Chinese social media platform Weibo, videos have been posted showing a drone hovering in the sky and broadcasting COVID-19 lockdown guidelines to residents under quarantine.
One clip, taken in a residential district in Shanghai, shows a drone with red flashing lights hovering above apartment buildings, loudly broadcasting thr messages, “Residents of Jiuting. During the pandemic, we request that you strictly abide by COVID-19 restrictions and related guidelines. Control your soul’s desire for freedom. Do not open the window or sing. This increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission.”
Other drones have also been seen flying over Shanghai districts, prompting some posters who filmed videos of the drones to call it “a glimpse of Cyberpunk 2077,” in reference to a dystopian video game.
In addition to drones, videos of robot dogs trotting along the empty streets of Shanghai have also been uploaded to Weibo.
One robot dog was spotted carrying a loudspeaker, from which COVID-19 lockdown guidelines were broadcast.
“Disinfect regularly. Ventilate your home. Prevent the pandemic in a scientific manner,” the broadcast message said.
Shanghai is currently struggling with a surge in COVID-19 cases, which led to the city’s 26 million people being placed on a strict lockdown amidst mandated mass testing for the virus.
However, the city’s zero-Covid policy has been criticized after disturbing videos emerged of infants and toddlers being left unattended in an overcrowded quarantine center in the city, a move that the Chinese government has defended.
According to South China Morning Post, since 1st March the city’s mass-testing regimen has reported more than 94,000 Covid-positive cases.
