Thursday, May 12, 2022

First COVID-19 Outbreak Is Confirmed In North Korea. Kim Declares National Emergency And Orders Lockdown

 

VOA: North Korea's Kim Orders Lockdown as First COVID-19 Outbreak Is Confirmed 

Seoul — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered a nationwide lockdown Thursday to try to contain a highly transmissible variant of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, which was confirmed in the country this week for the first time. 

The official Korean Central News Agency said genetic sequencing analysis of samples collected from a group of people on Sunday in Pyongyang had identified the BA.2 strain, also known as the “stealth omicron” for its relative difficulty of detection. 

While calling the situation a “most critical emergency,” the report did not say how many infections had been confirmed nor how many people had been tested. 

North Korea has maintained a strict border closure since February 2020 and instituted its own quarantine measures amid the pandemic, which have now officially been breached.  

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WNU Editor: The North Korean population is not vaccinated against Covid. Fortunately. The strain that is spreading throughout North Korea has been identified as the "weaker" stealth omicron variant. 

First COVID-19 Outbreak Is Confirmed In North Korea  

N. Korea reports 6 deaths after admitting COVID-19 outbreak -- AP 

N.Korea reports first COVID-19 death after 350000 sickened with fever -- Reuters  

North Korea admits to Covid outbreak for first time and declares ‘severe national emergency -- The Guardian  

North Korea declares national emergency over reported Covid-19 cases -- CNN 

North Korea officially reports first COVID-19 case, orders national lockdown -- UPI  

North Korea confirms first COVID outbreak; Kim orders lockdown -- The Hill  

UPDATE 1-WHO not yet notified of North Korea COVID outbreak, it says -- Reuters

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