Terra Drone Group company Antwork is using drones to transport critical medical supplies and patient samples in support of health care efforts to combat the coronavirus in China. Last week, a medical delivery drone flew from the People’s Hospital of Xinchang County to the disease control center there. The county, located in Zhejiang province, is one of the hardest-hit localized areas by the virus, with more than 1,006 confirmed cases.

Using drones reduces contact between patient samples and medical transport personnel and speeds delivery times. Drones best ground delivery speeds by more than 50 percent and also free ground transport assets and personnel at a time when the nation’s medical resources are severely strained. Terra Drone also pointed out that drone delivery also prevents “secondary pollution” of medical materials.

The medical flights are being conducted by Antwork branch company Aerodeli, which received the first urban drone delivery license issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) last October. Antwork also is working with other medical institutions throughout the country.