This is the robot delivering meals to over 200 hotel guests after they were sent directly to individual rooms for quarantine just moments after landing in China.
The robot with a female voice – named ‘Xiaohuasheng’ or ‘Little Peanut’ – is one of over a dozen identical models operating on every floor of the 16-storey hotel in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province in East China.
In the clip, the robot is seen rolling down the empty hotel corridor, stopping in front of a door where a guest wearing a surgical mask and slippers collects his meal.
Video Credit:AsiaWire
The robot repeatedly announces: “Hello, everyone. Cute Little Peanut is now delivering your meals.
“Enjoy your meal. Please contact staff through WeChat if you have any other requests.”
According to reports, all 335 passengers returning from Singapore on Scoot flight TR 188 were tested shortly after arrival at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on 24th January.
Two passengers showed signs of a fever and were sent to the city’s First People’s Hospital, while 114, all residents of the city of Wuhan, were quarantined at the airport hotel.
Rooms in which individual air passengers are being quarantined Passengers on flight TR 188 transferred to a hotel
The remaining 219 – plus 11 flight crew – were sent to individual rooms in the state-run hotel, which belongs to the Party School of the CPC Hangzhou Committee.
Since 28th January, quarantined guests on all floors of the establishment have had their meals delivered by Little Peanut.
Officials believe this will help reduce the risk of the novel coronavirus spreading further as health workers observe the guests for possible exposure and infection.
Since the outbreak of the Wuhan virus was confirmed in late 2019, 132 deaths and 5,900 cases have been reported in mainland China.
The infected number at over 6,000 worldwide as researchers race to synthesise a vaccine.
Meals delivered to quarantined hotel guests A robot named ‘Xiaohuasheng’ (Little Peanut) delivers food to quarantined hotel guests in Hangzhou, China
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Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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