North Korea recorded more than 262,000 more fever cases, increased production of drugs and medical equipment

North Korean army participates in distributing medicine to people in Pyongyang – Photo: REUTERS

On May 19, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that factories in the country are producing more medicines, thermometers and other medical supplies in the capital Pyongyang and surrounding areas. near. There are also more isolation areas and increased disinfection across the country.

“Thousands of tons of salt were urgently transported to the city of Pyongyang for the production of disinfectant solution,” KCNA reported.

North Korea has also ramped up production of traditional medicines to help relieve pain and fever, which, according to KCNA, are “effective in the prevention and treatment of this evil disease.”

According to Reuters news agency, North Korea does not have a national vaccination campaign and COVID-19 treatment. Instead, the state media encourages patients to use pain relievers, antibiotics as well as salt water gargles, or drink certain types of tea.

As of the evening of May 18, North Korea recorded more than 262,270 cases of fever symptoms and 1 death, bringing the total to 1.978 million cases of fever and 63 deaths. KCNA did not specify how many of these cases were positive for COVID-19.

North Koreans have their temperatures taken in Pyongyang – Photo: REUTERS

North Korea is facing a serious COVID-19 outbreak. In the middle of last week, the country announced the first cases of the disease after almost 2 years of confirming no epidemic.

Pyongyang has mobilized all resources to fight the epidemic, including deploying military forces to deliver drugs for 24 hours, setting up about 500 response teams to identify and treat patients.

On May 17, leader Kim Jong Un at a meeting with the Politburo of the Workers’ Party of Korea criticized the “immaturity” of dealing with the crisis from the early stages, and the slow and inactive response. The extremes of the country’s leading officials have made the fight against the epidemic more complicated.

He called for “double efforts” to stabilize people’s lives and stressed the need to “more closely organize work to support living conditions and provide daily necessities”.

Earlier, the United Nations voiced concern about the COVID-19 epidemic situation in North Korea, due to low vaccination rates and other problems in the country. Neighboring South Korea has also offered medical assistance, including vaccines, masks, test kits and technological cooperation with North Korea.

Mr. Kim Jong Un criticized the lack of anti-epidemic officials

TTO – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued to criticize officials for their lack of early response to the epidemic, making the current situation more difficult. North Korea recorded an additional 232,000 fever cases and 6 deaths on May 17.