A CCTV security surveillance camera overlooks a street as people walk following the spread of the coronavirus disease in Beijing, China, 11 May 2020.
Image: Thomas Peter/Reuters
The coronavirus outbreak in China has given unprecedented glimpses into how an extensive system of surveillance cameras works, as monitoring stations are rebranded epidemic “war rooms” helping to check people’s movements and stifle the disease.
Despite the hi-tech ambitions of the system, it is heavily dependent on a lot of people watching footage on screens
While authorities have primarily used mobile location data and ID-linked tracing apps to flag people coming back from abroad for quarantine, the camera surveillance system has played a crucial role, according to officials, state media and residents.
A CCTV security surveillance camera overlooks a street as a woman walks past following the spread of the novel coronavirus disease in Beijing, China, 11 May 2020.
A CCTV security surveillance camera overlooks a street as a man walks following the spread of the coronavirus disease in Beijing, China, 12 May 2020.
