SEOUL: Northern Korea has raised a mask requirement and eased some other virus restrictions, condition media said Saturday (Aug 13), days after leader Kim Jong Un declared “victory” over COVID-19 .
The particular announcement comes after Pyongyang previously this week blamed Seoul regarding causing the COVID-19 outbreak in the North plus threatened to “wipe out” the Southern Korean authorities, if required.
Virus restrictions were eased since “the public wellness crisis created in the nation was completely defused and its whole area was turned into the clean one free of the malignant virus in the shortest period”, Pyongyang’s official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
“The step designed for obligatory mask-wearing has been lifted in all areas except frontline places and borderline metropolitan areas and counties, considering the fact that the whole country has been turned into an epidemic-free zone, ” KCNA said.
North Korea declared a “shining victory” over COVID-19 earlier immediately just months after announcing its very first cases in May.
Social distancing as well as other anti-virus measures were also lifted aside from border regions.
But people with symptoms of respiratory disease were recommended to wear face masks and North Koreans were urged in order to “remain vigilant” against “abnormal things” – apparently referring to propaganda leaflets from the South.
Despite analysis that took effect in 2021, South Korean activists for a long time have flown balloons carrying propaganda leaflets and dollars over the border, which the Northern has long protested against.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, on Wednesday held responsible these activities for your North’s COVID-19 break out, vowing “deadly” retaliation against Seoul.
Kim Yo Jong also revealed the fact that top leader himself had fallen ill during the outbreak and suffered from a “high fever”.
Northern Korea has recorded nearly 4. almost eight million “fever” situations – while only identifying a portion of those as COVID-19 – since past due April, with just 74 deaths, based on KCNA.
Experts, including the World Wellness Organization, have long questioned Pyongyang’s COVID-19 statistics and claims to have brought the particular outbreak under control.
North Korea provides one of the world’s worst healthcare systems, with poorly equipped hospitals and few extensive care units, professionals say.
It is not believed to have vaccinated any of its 26 million population, although it may have received a few vaccines from Cina, Seoul-based specialist site NK News offers reported.