VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP)– The Vilnius municipality says it has started a pilot initiative where drones are patrolling the skies over the Lithuanian capital as authorities try to prevent citizens from gathering in public.

IT adviser to the municipality Egle Radvilaite said that seven unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with loudspeakers were launched Monday and dozens more are expected to join this enforcement task shortly.

The drones are operating daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in parks, squares and other places where people tend to gather. Two weeks ago, Lithuania gradually imposed restrictions due to the coronavirus, banning, among others, crowds of more than five people.