Following the imposition of the lockdown in North Korea due to the country’s first Covid-19 case, local leader Kim Jong-un decided to mobilize the army to “immediately stabilize drug supplies in Pyongyang,” according to the agency, among others Reuters.
Decisions to contain contagion
deepening
North Korea has ordered lockdown after first case of Covid-19
According to official figures from local authorities, 50 deaths have already been recorded since the virus was first identified in the country, ie last week. The population is not yet vaccinated and the North Korean health system ranks 193rd (out of 195 countries) according to a study by experts from the American Johns Hopkins University. That’s also because North Korea has turned down offers of vaccines from China and the World Health Organization-coordinated Covax program, despite renewed offers of help from Beijing and South Korea. As the local news agency KCNA further reports, according to the North Korean head of state, the drugs procured by the state did not reach the citizens quickly and accurately and for this reason he ordered the immediate deployment of the army medical corps in an emergency meeting and criticized the “irresponsible” The attitude, organization and implementation of the anti-Covid cry by Cabinet and public health experts. According to the North Korean head of state, pharmacies are not well equipped to carry out their tasks smoothly. Shortcomings include inadequate storage of medicines, pharmacists who are not equipped with proper health clothing, and the hygiene of the area that does not meet standards.
The numbers in the country
According to local sources, the number of cases in North Korea is 1,213,550 with 50 deaths after KCNA itself reported 392,920 more cases and another eight deaths. However, it was not specified how many suspected infections actually affect people who are positive for Covid-19. The country has attributed most of the deaths to people “careless in taking drugs” due to a lack of knowledge about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and how to treat it properly, Reuters said.