North Korea announces first COVID death, orders ‘strict’ lockdown

North Korea announces first COVID death, orders ‘strict’ lockdown

North Korea has reported its first COVID death since other countries of the world have been battling the pandemic.

According to CNN, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), on Thursday, called the situation the “gravest national emergency” and said North Korea reported 18,000 new “fever cases” and six deaths — including one confirmed COVID fatality.

The country has, however, not confirmed that all “fever” cases and deaths are COVID-related.

North Korea had never confirmed a single COVID infection before Thursday.

KCNA reportedly said samples taken on May 8 from people in Pyongyang who were experiencing fevers showed the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron virus.

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, also called a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s, ordering a “strict lockdown” in all cities and the mobilisation of emergency reserve medical supplies.

“The state epidemic prevention work shall be switched over to the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system,” KCNA was quoted as saying.