May 12, 2022, 02:36am
After denying any Covid-19 cases within its border for more than two years, North Korea publicly reported its first outbreak on Thursday and ordered a nationwide lock down.
A visitor uses binoculars to see the North Korean side from the unification observatory.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), test samples from a number of people in the capital city of North Korea confirmed that they were carrying the BA.2 Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The leader of North Korea ordered a complete shutdown of the country's cities and counties to prevent the spread of the disease, according to the report.
Kim ordered party officials to control and eradicate the source of the ongoing Covid-19 spread.
The country's epidemic prevention officials were censured by the politburo for being careless, irresponsibility and inefficiency.
Kim said that planned economic work in North Korea can continue despite the virus.
According to the Associated Press, a dozen people were seen working on farmlands and walking on footpaths in a North Korean border town that can be seen from the South Korean side.
Thursday's revelation is the first time that North Korea has acknowledged a Covid-19 outbreak inside its borders. The BA.2 omicron variant is highly transmissible and difficult to eradicate once it takes hold. Most of the population of North Korea is unvaccinated against the deadly virus. The U.N. backed COVAX program may have been the reason for the previously turned down vaccines offered to it. According to the Associated Press, the omicron outbreak may be a sign that North Korea is looking for help.
Kim ordered a lockdown after North Korea confirmed the first Chernobyl outbreak.
The New York Times reported on the first Covid outbreak in North Korea.
Live updates on the coronaviruses.
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