Fact Check: Is video of Chinese SWAT team arresting coronavirus suspect real? Here’s the truth
The claim, however, is false.
A video showing a SWAT team in China arresting a man after suspecting he was infected with coronavirus is being shared across social media. The video, however, shows a mock drill conducted by the authorities.
“The way that China stops and arrests a #coronavirus suspect on the road,” wrote a Twitter user and shared the video.
In the video, a SWAT team stops an approaching car in the middle of a street. Then the video details how the SWAT team arrests the man, using a net, and takes him away.
A closer look at the video reveals that at one point in the video, an officer of the team is seen holding a banner with the word “exercises” written on it.

Further, a Google search led to the same video tweeted by The Telegraph. In the tweet The Telegraph mentions that the SWAT teams in China are practicing drills to detain people who are suspected of having Coronavirus.
“In China, SWAT teams have been practising drills to detain those suspected of being infected with Coronavirus. They use nets, roadblocks and anti-bacterial spray to contain the disease and arrest un-cooperative patients,” the tweet reads.
So, the video showing a SWAT team arresting a coronavirus suspect is not real but a drill.
ABOUT THE AUTHORTrisha SenguptaTrisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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