North Korea prevents COVID-19 making inroads

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told a meeting of the politburo of the ruling Workers Party that his country had stopped the novel coronavirus from making inroads in the country, the state news agency KCNA reported on July 3. 

"We have thoroughly prevented the inroad of the malignant virus and maintained a stable anti-epidemic situation despite the worldwide health crisis, which is a shining success achieved," Kim Jong Un said in a statement carried by KCNA. 

He warned against self-complacency or relaxation in the anti-epidemic effort and urged North Koreans to maintain maximum alert. 

While North Korea has not confirmed any infections, its public health ministry has reported all 922 people checked so far have tested negative. Hundreds of people, mostly cargo handlers at seaports and land borders, are being regularly quarantined for monitoring. 

The politburo meeting on July 2 was held at a time when many hard-hit countries were easing lockdowns, even as the world moved quickly past the grim milestones of 10 million confirmed infections and 500,000 deaths. 

According to reports, North Korea has reopened schools but kept a ban on public gatherings and made it mandatory for people to wear masks in public places as part of its response to the coronavirus threat.