[Cyprus Times] Kim Jong-un condemns "immaturity" of officials amid outbreak of coronavirus pandemic

Since last week, North Korea has recorded 62 deaths out of a total of 1.72 million. The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has criticized the "immaturity" shown by officials of the state apparatus in dealing with the first officially confirmed outbreak of the new coronavirus pandemic in the isolated country, accusing officials of inefficiency and inaction as the outbreaks multiply, state media reported today.[/P]

North Korean authorities found six more deaths of people with "fever", while another 232.880 people showed symptoms of infection, state news agency KCNA listed.

It did not specify whether or how many of the patients were confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, nor whether the deaths were actually due to complications of COVID-19, as the country lacks the resources to conduct mass testing.

North Korea's health system was ranked 193rd out of 195 countries in a study last year by the US Johns Hopkins University.

Since the first official admission of the outbreak of the pandemic last week - attributed to a subtype of Omicron - North Korea has recorded 62 deaths out of a total of 1.72 million people who have developed a "fever".

North Korea has not vaccinated its population for COVID-19, has no drugs to treat the infection, and appears to rely on antibiotics.

Some scientists make no secret of their concern about the possibility of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerging in the country.

Presiding over an emergency meeting of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea, Mr. Kim decried the "immaturity" of the state apparatus "in dealing with the crisis", which magnifies "the complexities and sufferings" of the population at a time when "time equals life," KCNA reported today.

The World Health Organization yesterday expressed concern about the development of the pandemic in North Korea, again suggesting its assistance, sending vaccines, medicines, medical supplies.

"WHO is deeply concerned about the risk of COVID-19 spreading even further throughout the country, particularly because the population is not vaccinated and because there are many people with underlying diseases who are at risk of developing a severe form of the infection," said its head, Tedros Adanom Gebresus, during a press conference in Geneva.

For now, the authorities in Pyongyang are not known if they have given any response to pleas from the UN and WHO for assistance.

Dr. Tedros admitted yesterday that the WHO is in no position to do anything but wait.

Source: CNA

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