Authorities in a district in Da Nang have started operating drones on a trial basis to make sure local residents comply with an ongoing shelter-in-place order.

The plan began to be implemeted in Hai Chau District on Sunday to monitor the situation in local alleys.

Data collected by 15 camera drones was then transmitted to district authorities to assess residents’ compliance with pandemic prevention and control regulations.

Along with CCTV systems and officers’ regular patrols, the drones will help the local administration make sure people stay where they are as required by the Da Nang People's Committee, said Vu Quang Hung, secretary of the Hai Chau Party Committee.

The drone deployment is aimed at preventing new outbreaks in the district, especially down local alleys, Hung continued.

After the trial concludes, Hai Chau authorities will review the data and pool feedback before deciding whether or not the plan will become official.

Da Nang has registered over 4,000 local COVID-19 cases since the fourth virus wave hit Vietnam on April 27.

The municipal People’s Committee began requiring all residents to stay where they are from August 16 to 26 and later extended the shelter-in-place period to September 6 in areas at high risk of transmission.

Le Trung Chinh, chairman of Da Nang, recently directed all districts to further tighten surveillance in residential areas, especially in alleys.

District leaders will have to take the blame if residents go out without proper reasons during this period, the chairman asserted.

Vietnam had documented 422,469 COVID-19 cases by Sunday afternoon, with 210,989 recoveries and 10,405 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 418,320 local infections in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities in the ongoing flare-up

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