Drones, time-slots give Albania’s virus lockdown a hi-tech edge

A picture taken on March 13, 2020, shows an aerial view of empty Tirana's inner ring. Albania has stepped up measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 caused by the novel coronavirus and banned circulation of all cars (except ambulances and supplies) for three days and urged people to stay home as the number of infected people increased to 33. — AFP

TIRANA: Buzzing overhead, the police drone warns shoppers in Tirana that curfew is approaching and they need to go home, having run checks through the day to make sure no one runs past their allotted 90-minute windows for outside activities.

Albania has taken a hi-tech approach to monitoring a coronavirus lockdown in place since March 15, co-opting drones that were previously used to detect cannabis fields and speeding cars.