New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS): A video is doing the rounds on the internet in which Chinese officials in rural areas are creatively using drones to make sure local residents don't gather together without wearing masks as the nation battles against the deadly coronavirus.

In the viral video, residents of a village in inner Mongolia are startled when they hear a disembodied voice from a hovering drone admonishing them for not wearing face masks.

"Yes, Auntie, this is the drone speaking to you -- you shouldn't walk about without wearing a mask," says a voice echoing from a drone hovering over an elderly woman, who looks confused before walking away quickly, a video posted by Chinese state-run media Global Times showed.

Another clip showed a drone telling a group of women to "put your masks on, hurry up!"

As the videos went viral, Twitterati flooded the social media with reactions. A user wrote: "This might look scary but if it saves lives nothing to complain..."

Another wrote: "How China government taking care of people!!! Awesome."

One post read, "Lol, clever way to remind people." A Tweeple remarked, "Great way to keep up with the time; advances in science and technology can better help maintain social order and people's safety."

Chinese authorities on Saturday confirmed that the death toll from the deadly novel coronavirus in the country has increased to 259, with 11,791 infected cases in 31 provincial-level regions.