Over an exit of an expressway in Yancheng, northern Jiangsu Province, a drone is seen hovering slowly on Tuesday with a QR code hanging below, while broadcasting to drivers entering the city to scan the code that will show their travel itineraries so that they can quickly pass quarantine inspection. Photo: VCG

Over an exit of an expressway in Yancheng, northern Jiangsu Province, a drone hovers slowly with a QR code hanging below, while broadcasting to drivers entering the city to scan the code that will show their travel itineraries so that they can quickly pass quarantine inspection, as showed in a video published by guancha.cn on Sina Weibo on Tuesday.

Netizens commented that it is both efficient and a little cyberpunk.

"The drone will sound an alarm when battery is at low level and will automatically return to its dock. It can automatically avoid obstacles while flying, which is a huge upgrade from previous generations," a Weibo user wrote.

Others said that in the heat of the summer, drones can help reduce the workload of grassroots workers in combating the pandemic.

Many have said that this is the best advertisement for drones.

With the latest flare-up of the much transmissible Delta variant outbreak caused by imported cases which sprung up in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu, and has since spread to other Chinese provinces, cities in Jiangsu have implemented strict measures to control its spread. 

In total, 31 provincial-level regions across China warned residents on Monday against unnecessary travel.

For instance, from July 27, all personnel and car entering Yancheng are required to present a "green health code" or a green telecommunication data-based travel itinerary card. Yancheng police set up inspection points at each of the city's 28 highway exits and junctions of 18 national and provincial expressways.

Yancheng currently has not reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection as of Tuesday noon, official data showed.

Global Times