On May 13, North Korea’s state media KCNA said at least six people with fever symptoms had died, of which one was confirmed to be infected with the Covid-19 variant Omicron.
According to KCNA, about 187,800 North Korean people are currently being treated in isolation after the fever of unknown origin “exploded across the country” since the end of April. About 350,000 people are showing signs of illness, of which 18,000 new cases have just reported on May 10.
However, it is not clear how many of these people are positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the Covid-19 command center to check the situation and response work after declaring the “most serious state of emergency” and ordering a nationwide blockade on May 12.
Also on May 12, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that North Korean Central Television posted a video recording the image of leader Kim Jong-un wearing a medical mask for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out 2 years ago.
The North Korean leader pointed to the isolation and treatment of people with fever as a top priority, enhanced scientific treatment methods and drug delivery measures.
For more than two years, North Korea has maintained strict epidemic control measures including border closures and strict isolation.
