North Korea confirms first COVID outbreak, Kim orders lockdown

Seoul, May 12 (BNA): North Korea imposed a nationwide lockdown on Thursday to control its first acknowledged outbreak of COVID-19 after maintaining for more than two years a widely questionable claim of a perfect track record of keeping the virus spreading throughout the country. around the world approx. place in the world.

The extent of the outbreak was not immediately known, but it could have serious consequences because the country has a poor healthcare system and its population of 26 million is believed to be mostly unvaccinated. And some experts say North Korea, by its rare acknowledgment of the outbreak, may be seeking foreign aid.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that tests of samples collected on Sunday from an unspecified number of people with fever in the capital, Pyongyang, confirmed that they had contracted the omicron variant, the Associated Press reported.

In response, leader Kim Jong Un called during a meeting of the ruling party’s Politburo for a comprehensive closure of cities and counties, and said workplaces should be isolated by units to prevent the spread of the virus.

He urged health workers to intensify disinfection efforts in workplaces and homes and mobilize backup medical supplies.

Kim said it is necessary to stabilize transmissions and eliminate the source of infection as quickly as possible, while easing the inconveniences that virus controls are causing to the public. Kim insisted that the country would definitely overcome what he described as an unexpected outbreak because its government and people are “united together”.

North Korea, which continues to use one of the world’s most restrictive border controls, did not provide further details about its shutdown.

FKN