Drones in a COVID-19 World

Drones have been around for a while now, and their uses continue to grow. Now they’re being used in a variety of ways related to COVID-19. There is a group of volunteers flying over parks in Manhattan reminding people to maintain social distancing. Daytona Beach used drones to disperse crowds; this allowed police to safely remind people to maintain safe distances without risking exposure themselves. Savannah Georgia is also planning to use drones to remind people to maintain safe distances, Massachusetts police are considering drones, Connecticut police are planning to use drones in public parks, and New Jersey has announced plans to launch a drone program as well. The U.S. is not alone; Germany, Kazakhstan, China, France, and other countries have drones flying near crowds and playing recorded messages. It is a great way to keep police and the public safe. However, there are always privacy concerns, people have reported that having drones lying around with messages is creepy, and while the drones are not making announcements, it is easy to see why people might fear they are being recorded as well. Massachusetts acknowledged that the benefits of the technology must be weighed against privacy issues which is part of the state’s review of using drones to maintain social distancing.

Drones can be used beyond just announcements reminding people to stay six feet apart. Drones can be used for deliveries and even disinfection. A Canadian company working with Australian researchers developed a drone that could fly over people and identify their temperature, heart and respiratory rates, and can detect people sneezing and coughing in crowds. The Westport Connecticut police department is testing this pandemic drone. The drone can accurately detect infectious conditions within 190 feet and measure social distancing for public safety measures. The drone uses software using biometric readings to understand population patterns, which would allow faster reaction time to ongoing events or health threats. As of April 21 it had been in testing for five days, and it is anticipated that it will continue to be used throughout the summer to reinforce social distancing in order to control and limit the spread of COVID-19. In order to protect privacy it does not use any facial recognition technology. The idea is that the drone will help first responders quickly find people who may be infected.