WHO says COVID in N.Korea likely ‘getting worse, not better’
SEOUL (Reuters) – The World Well being Group has solid doubts on North Korea’s claims of progress within the battle in opposition to a COVID-19 outbreak, saying it believes the scenario is getting worse, not higher, amid an absence of impartial knowledge.
North Korean state media has mentioned the COVID wave has abated, after every day numbers of individuals with fever topped 390,000 about two weeks in the past.
Pyongyang has by no means instantly confirmed how many individuals have examined constructive for the virus however consultants suspect underreporting within the figures launched by means of government-controlled media, making it troublesome to evaluate the size of the scenario.
“We assume the scenario is getting worse, not higher,” WHO emergencies chief Michael Ryan mentioned throughout a video briefing Wednesday.
He mentioned the WHO didn’t have entry to any privileged info past the numbers publicly reported by state media.
“We have now actual points in having access to the uncooked knowledge and to the precise scenario on the bottom,” Ryan mentioned, including that the WHO is working with neighbours like South Korea and China to attempt to get a greater image.
The WHO has provided help on a number of events, together with vaccines and provides, he mentioned.
North Korea reported 96,610 extra individuals exhibiting fever amid its nationwide lockdown geared toward containing the impoverished nation’s first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak, state information company KCNA mentioned on Thursday.
The media, nevertheless, didn’t point out whether or not there have been any new deaths.
KCNA mentioned provinces had been “intensifying” their anti-epidemic campaigns, together with imposing some lockdowns and coastal blockades, rising manufacturing of medicine and medical provides, and finishing up disinfection work.
Key work akin to farming continued, nevertheless.
North Korean Premier Kim Tok Hun inspected a pair of pharmaceutical factories, amid a push to place the nation’s drug trade on a “on a brand new greater stage,” together with assembly worldwide requirements, KCNA reported.
“Adequate manufacturing and provide of medicines function a prerequisite to defending the individuals’s lives and well being within the present rigorous anti-epidemic marketing campaign,” he mentioned.
(Reporting by Josh Smith and Joori Roh; modifying by Jonathan Oatis and Sam Holmes)
