A city in China is using robots to take COVID throat swabs, as mass testing goes up to prevent local outbreaks, according to a report in AFP.?
In Shenyang, which lies in the northern part of the country, robotic arms are collecting samples while lowering the chances of cross-infection between people. They are part of a campaign to combat the spike in cases in the region.?
Not too bothered by the setup which looked to be from the future, people who waited their turn put their government identification cards in a scanner, then a pre-recorded message told them to open their mouths.?
A robotic arm, protected by plastic extended a swab stick that went towards their nostrils.?
A person wearing a hazmat suit was controlling the robotic arm from a safe distance and a camera on the machine guided him.?
China more or less got control of COVID ever since it began its reign of terror in Wuhan way back in late 2019.?
However recently, China saw new local outbreaks resulting in internal lockdowns, travel restrictions and millions of people were tested far and wide.?
Over 20 million are at the moment in some kind of lockdown in Northern China.?
As the pandemic progressed, robots have replaced humans in a variety of roles like hotel porters or food delivery drivers. This is due to the fear that contact with those in these services could spread COVID.?
We are entering a new age where technology is the key so it is good that robots are there to do the job which is risky for us. After all, it is much safer while collecting samples for the person operating the mechanism to be miles away if necessary. So this is a good way to go.