The recent cases of “fever” detected earlier this week in North Korea are due to the flu and not the re-emergence of covid-19 in the country, contrary to early speculation, the country’s state news agency KCNA reported today.
The clarification comes a day after Pyongyang announced the imposition of a curfew in parts of Ryanggang province, which borders China, following the detection of four new cases of “fever”.
“All the cases of fever (…) in Ryanggang province were flu cases,” KCNA said, citing health authorities.
The patients “recovered and now have a normal temperature,” the agency added, noting that a curfew had been imposed in the area.
KCNA had reported on Thursday that four new cases of “fever” were believed to be linked to the “evil epidemic” of the coronavirus, two weeks after the country had announced its “sweeping victory” over covid-19.
North Korea is talking about “fever patients” and not covid, apparently due to a lack of testing facilities.
The reclusive regime, which has closed its borders since the start of the pandemic, confirmed in May an outbreak caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the capital Pyongyang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who fell ill during the outbreak, earlier this month declared “sweeping victory” against the coronavirus and had called for the lifting of almost all restrictions, such as mandatory mask wearing.
North Korea has recorded nearly 4.8 million “fever cases” since the end of April, with just 74 deaths, according to state media. No cases have been reported since July 29.
Experts, including the World Health Organization, are wary of the figures announced by Pyongyang and whether it has really brought the epidemic under control.
The country’s hospitals are under-equipped, with few intensive care units and no treatment or vaccine for covid-19. However, South Korean media outlet NK News reported that Pyongyang has received vaccine doses from China.
Source: RES-MPE
Source: Capital
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