Beijing residents said they were forced to wear electronic monitoring bracelets during home quarantine. Many described this as something dangerous – the state can monitor sick people or those in contact with infected people or those returning from abroad through these devices.

One of the Beijing residents said that he returned from a business trip, independently contacted health workers and offered to take tests and quarantine. He was told that, under the new rules, he had to wear an electronic bracelet that would supposedly monitor his health indicators.

The man noted that this bracelet could “record my movements” if it could connect to the internet. He likened the device to electronic handcuffs.

This is what the bracelet looks like, health workers promise to deliver it to your home:

After the scandal on social media, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission said that the quarantine is only necessary for those returning to Beijing from areas with a high risk of coronavirus transmission, and wearing electronic bracelets is not mandatory.