North Korea reports first death from COVID-19

This is information provided by State Media North Korea Released today (May 13).

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that about 187,800 people are being treated in isolation and have a fever of unknown origin, which is currently “exploding nationwide”.

About 350,000 people have shown signs of the fever, including 18,000 who just reported such symptoms on May 12, KCNA said. About 162,200 people have been treated, but KCNA did not specify how many have tested positive for the virus. COVID-19.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the anti-epidemic command center on May 12 to check the situation and response after declaring the “most serious state of emergency” and ordering the entire shutdown. country on the same day.

North Korea says the disease broke out in the capital Pyongyang in April. North Korean state media did not detail the cause of the outbreak, but the city of Pyongyang has hosted a number of major events. on April 15 and 25, including a military parade and mass gatherings, in which most participants did not wear masks.

Chairman Kim Jong-un conducts an emergency meeting against the epidemic on May 12. (Photo: AP)

Kim “criticized that the simultaneous spread of the fever in the capital area showed that there was a weakness in the epidemic prevention system,” KCNA said.

Mr. Kim said that actively isolating and treating people with fever is the top priority, and called for scientific treatment methods and tactics “immediately” as well as strengthening measures. medical treatment.

According to KCNA, the country’s health authorities are making efforts to organize multiple COVID-19 testing and treatment systems as well as intensifying disinfection work.

The rapid spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus in the country highlights the possibility of a major crisis in North Korea, which lacks medical resources and has refused international help in fighting the virus. vaccination and closing borders to the world.

The outbreak could threaten to aggravate North Korea’s already difficult food situation, analysts said, as the shutdown would hamper the “all-out war” against drought and mobilization. labor.

North Korea has refused to source the COVID-19 vaccine provided by the COVAX global sharing program and China, which could leave the majority of its people unvaccinated and at higher risk of infection.

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