Police in Connecticut are trying out a special “pandemic drone” that can detect people who have symptoms of coronavirus infection from up to 190 feet away.
The Westport Police Department, located in the state’s hardest-hit county of Fairfield, is testing the technology as part of its “Flatten the Curve Pilot Program,” according to Fox News. Drone company Draganfly said the drones will be able to display respiratory and heart rates for those analyzed. Police said the devices also have the ability to detect someone coughing in a crowd.
Police said the intention of the technology is to better monitor how people are social distancing in public areas, as well as better protect people who are elderly or have underlying health conditions that make COVID-19 deadlier.
Foti Koskinas, Westport’s police chief, said that the department is “looking for effective ways to ease the spread of COVID-19 and keep their communities safe.”
“This technology not only enhances the safety of our officers and the public, but the concept of using drones remains a go-to technology for reaching the most remote areas with little to no manpower needed,” Koskinas added.
In order to protect the privacy of residents, the drones do not use facial recognition technology and are not permitted to hover over private property, such as yards.
Fairfield County has had almost 8,500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and at least 544 deaths. In Connecticut overall, there have been more than 20,000 cases and 1,423 deaths, according to the New York Times.
Earlier this month, the Elizabeth Police Department in New Jersey announced that it would use talking drones to tell people to disperse in order to better enforce social distancing.
“These drones will be around the City with an automated message from the Mayor telling you to STOP gathering, disperse and go home,” the police department said in a Facebook post. “Summonses HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE to be issued to those found in violation. Fines are up to $1000. You have been advised.”
During the initial outbreak in China, authorities there also used talking drones to urge residents to wear face masks. Belgium has also used the technology to alert citizens that there was a lockdown in place.
A California police department purchased two new drones in March and said it is looking into ways the technology could be used to assist officers during the pandemic.
