China: after RoboDogs, drones bark orders in Shanghai to enforce COVID lockdown

China's lockdown measures in Shanghai as part of its 'zero-COVID' policy has received the ire of netizens world wide. A video surfaced on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, where a drone could be seen reinforcing lockdown rules and COVID appropriate behaviour.

The drone could be seen flying overhead, asking residents to 'control the soul's desire for freedom' when some residents came out to the balcony and started singing. The drone cautioned against the act saying it increased the risk of transmission of the virus.

The drone comes merely days after robot dogs with speakers attached were seen on the streets of Shanghai broadcasting COVID appropriate behaviour, asking people to disinfect, ventilate and 'prevent the pandemic in a scientific manner'.

Shanghai which has a population of 26 million, went into a stringent lockdown after COVID cases in the city skyrocketed. Residents of the city are forbidden from leaving their houses, depending entirely on authorities to supply them with essentials for survival.