BEIJING: Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China's methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people.
Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months.
At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice:"Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room."Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms.
In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dr Noor Hisham: China medical experts impressed with Malaysia’s Covid-19 response, health facilities | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — The team of medical experts from China lauded Malaysia for its quick and effective response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) including the enforcement of the movement control order, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. He said that the visiting...
Read more »
Harbin city shuts eateries, coronavirus curbs ease elsewhere in China | Malay MailBEIJING, May 2 — A northeastern Chinese city of 10 million people struggling with currently the country’s biggest coronavirus cluster shut dine-in services today, as the rest of China eases restrictions designed to hamper the spread of the disease. Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang...
Read more »
China firmly opposes US support for Taiwan's participation in UNUNITED NATIONS: The United States-United Nation's mission has gravely interfered with China's internal affairs by openly supporting Taiwan's participation in the United Nations, said a spokesperson of the permanent mission of China to the UN on Saturday (May 2).
Read more »
Harbin shuts eateries as rest of China eases virus curbsThe city of 10 million people is currently struggling with the country's biggest cluster. FMTNews
Read more »
China reports only 1 new Covid-19 caseWith no new deaths recorded, the nation's toll remains at 4,633. FMTNews Covid19
Read more »
Wall Street falls on US-China tensions, tech results | Malay MailNEW YORK, May 1 — Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower today on weakness in Amazon and Apple shares following earnings reports and tensions over blame for the coronavirus between China and the United States. About 20 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 23,900.59,...
Read more »