COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea

details of ongoing viral pandemic in North Korea

Before May 2022, North Korea had not reported any cases of COVID-19. Foreign analysts believed that the virus had spread to the country.[3] On 12 May 2022, the North Korean government declared a national emergency. It found an unspecified number of people who tested positive for COVID-19.[4]

COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea
Blue means suspected cases
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationNorth Korea
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Arrival date8 May 2022 (2022-05-08) (1 year, 10 months, 2 weeks and 4 days ago)[1]
Confirmed cases168[2]

The North Korean government has taken extreme measures, including quarantines and travel restrictions.

Response change

North Korea was one of the first countries to close borders due to COVID-19. The government created widespread travel restrictions,[5] including closing the border to foreign tourists in late January 2020[6] and then suspending flights and banning travel in and out of the country.

Though many parts of the border were closed, the bridge between Dandong and Sinuiju remained open and allowed supplies to be delivered.[7]

In late February, the North Korean government said that it would keep the border closed until a cure was found.

On 18 March 2020, Kim Jong-un ordered the construction of new hospitals in North Korea.

References change

  1. "North Korea says 6 people dead, 187,800 in quarantine due to 'fever'". NK News. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. "North Korea's COVID-19 outbreak by the numbers". NK News. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  3. "Coronavirus: nearly 200 North Korea soldiers 'die from outbreak government refuses to acknowledge'". South China Morning Post. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  4. "North Korea orders strict lockdown with first official Covid cases". BBC News. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  5. Shinkman, Paul D. "North Korea Opens Borders to Aid Amid Coronavirus Threat". Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. "North Korea Bars Foreign Tourists Amid Virus Threat, Groups Say". Bloomberg.com. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  7. "Russia Delivers Coronavirus Test Kits to North Korea". 12 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.