Police authorities in Albania will begin monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the country by drones, in order to easily verify cases of  violation of the isolation orders.

Euronews Albania journalist, Eni Ferhati, said such a measure will initially be applied in Tirana, adding that drones had previously been used by police forces to monitor remote areas for cannabis cultivation or by traffic police to monitor high-speed highways.

“The drones are equipped with sirens and loudspeakers to signal that this is a police tool. They also have several other programs where they call on citizens, based on the area the drone is monitoring. Attention calls include citizens who are standing in line in markets and are not following the rules, as well as for those standing in line to go inside the bank, but also for passers-by. They are called to stay in place until police patrol goes to see if he is authorized to go out”, said journalist Eni Ferhati. 

Minister of Internal Affairs, Sandër Lleshaj, said that the latest extension, regarding the scheduled time authorized citizens can be outside, is done to enable only one destination. He also said that police authorities will tighten the measures to increase control for the violators.