North Korea's Kim Says Covid "Great Turmoil', 21 New Deaths Reported

Sabtu, 14 Mei 2022 | 14:09 WIB
North Korea's Kim Says Covid
[ILUSTRASI. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un applauds during a photo session with students and young workers in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 1, 2022. KCNA via REUTERS ]
Reporter: Sumber: Reuters | Editor: Thomas Hadiwinata

KONTAN.CO.ID - SEOUL, May 14 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Saturday that the spread of COVID-19 had thrust his country into "great turmoil" and called for an all-out battle to overcome the outbreak, while 21 new daily deaths were reported among people with fever.

North Korea made an unprecedented admission of its first COVID outbreak this week and imposed a nationwide lockdown, after reporting no cases since the start of the pandemic two years ago. But there was no sign a rigorous testing or treatment campaign was under way.

"The spread of the malignant epidemic is a great turmoil to fall on our country since the founding," state news agency KCNA quoted Kim as telling an emergency meeting of the country's ruling Workers' Party.

"But if we don't lose focus in implementing epidemic policy and maintain strong organisation power and control based on single-minded unity of the party and the people and strengthen our epidemic battle, we can more than overcome the crisis."

Baca Juga: U.S. Tells Southeast Asian Leaders Summit Marks New Era for Ties

Given North Korea's limited testing capabilities, the numbers probably represent a fraction of total cases and could lead to thousands of deaths in one of only two countries without a vaccination campaign, experts have said.

The outbreak could also deepen an already dire food situation in the country, with the lockdown hampering anti-drought efforts and mobilisation of labour.

The Workers' Party meeting heard reports of about 280,810 people being treated and 27 deaths since a fever of unidentified origins was reported starting in late April, KCNA said.

State media did not say whether the new deaths were due to COVID. KCNA said on Friday that one death had been confirmed to be due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The meeting also heard a report from epidemic control officials that "in most cases, human casualties were caused by negligence including drug overdose due to lack of knowledge of treatment methods", KCNA said.

Baca Juga: Gold Faces Fourth Weekly Loss as Dollar Rally Saps Appeal

Since late April, 524,440 people have shown signs of fever including 174,440 new cases on Friday, KCNA said. About 243,630 have been treated but KCNA has not said how many people have been tested nor confirmed the total number of COVID cases.

North Korea has been testing about 1,400 people a week, according to Harvard Medical School's Kee Park who has worked on health care projects in the country, not nearly enough to survey the hundreds of thousands of people with symptoms.

Leader Kim said the health crisis had been caused by the incompetence and irresponsibility of party organisations, but transmission was not uncontrollable and the country must have faith in its battle to overcome the crisis in the shortest possible period, KCNA said.

Kim offered to donate medical supplies, which had been kept in his household, to be used by families that are experiencing particular hardship "with his resolution to always share the destiny with the people", KCNA said.

Kim also said health officials must learn from the experience of other advanced countries, including China's accomplishments in fighting the epidemic, KCNA said.

Bagikan

Berita Terbaru

Kisah Investasi Teddy Wishadi BNI Sekuritas: Deposito ke Saham
| Sabtu, 06 September 2025 | 03:59 WIB

Kisah Investasi Teddy Wishadi BNI Sekuritas: Deposito ke Saham

Teddy Wishadi, Direktur BNI Sekuritas, berbagi kisah investasi. Pelajari evolusi instrumen dan strategi investasi dari deposito ke saham.

Semen Baturaja: Laba Meroket 989%, Apa Strateginya?
| Sabtu, 06 September 2025 | 03:58 WIB

Semen Baturaja: Laba Meroket 989%, Apa Strateginya?

PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) raih lonjakan laba bersih 989% semester I-2025. Simak strategi efisiensi logistik, digitalisasi, dan produk turunan.

Danantara Bersiap Menggarap 33 Proyek Listrik Tenaga Sampah
| Sabtu, 06 September 2025 | 03:57 WIB

Danantara Bersiap Menggarap 33 Proyek Listrik Tenaga Sampah

Danantara kini tengah menunggu beleid aturan yang bakal menjadi pedoman untuk menggarap proyek listrik tenaga sampah. 

Giro Bikin DPK Bank Tumbuh Lebih Kencang
| Sabtu, 06 September 2025 | 03:56 WIB

Giro Bikin DPK Bank Tumbuh Lebih Kencang

Dana pinak ketiga (DPK) yang tersimpan di perbankan naik 7% secara tahunan menjadi Rp 9.294 triliun per Juli 2025.

PTPP Kembali Digugat PKPU, Kali Ini Oleh Dua Perusahaan Konstruksi di Tangerang
| Jumat, 05 September 2025 | 09:20 WIB

PTPP Kembali Digugat PKPU, Kali Ini Oleh Dua Perusahaan Konstruksi di Tangerang

Kas dan setara kas PTPP turun hingga 41% YoY dari Rp 4,32 triliun di semester I-2024 menjadi Rp 2,54 triliun di semester I-2025.

CEO BRI Ventures Jadi Tersangka, Terseret Kasus Dugaan Korupsi Investasi TaniHub
| Jumat, 05 September 2025 | 09:02 WIB

CEO BRI Ventures Jadi Tersangka, Terseret Kasus Dugaan Korupsi Investasi TaniHub

Penyidik Kejaksaan Agung telah menyita beberapa bukti elektronik berupa handphone dan menyita empat bidang tanah di Jabodetabek dan Bandung.

Volatilitas Saham TAYS Tak Didukung Sentimen Fundamental, Investor Kudu Hati-Hati
| Jumat, 05 September 2025 | 08:33 WIB

Volatilitas Saham TAYS Tak Didukung Sentimen Fundamental, Investor Kudu Hati-Hati

Saham TAYS mulai bergerak naik sejak 12 Agustus 2025 ketika harganya mulai beranjak dari gocap ke Rp 52.

BNBR Bakal Jadi 100% Pengendali Cimanggis Cibitung Tollways, Pendapatan Naik 25%
| Jumat, 05 September 2025 | 08:16 WIB

BNBR Bakal Jadi 100% Pengendali Cimanggis Cibitung Tollways, Pendapatan Naik 25%

PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR) akan membiayai akuisisi 90% saham PT Cimanggis Cibitung Tollways lewat utang.

Pamor KPR Syariah Tak Redup Meski Bunga Acuan Menguncup
| Jumat, 05 September 2025 | 04:45 WIB

Pamor KPR Syariah Tak Redup Meski Bunga Acuan Menguncup

kebijakan bank konvensional yang masih enggan menurunkan bunga kreditnya membuat bisnis KPRsyariah belum kehilangan pamor.

Aset Dapen Masih Bisa Mengembang Meski Kondisi Menantang
| Jumat, 05 September 2025 | 04:15 WIB

Aset Dapen Masih Bisa Mengembang Meski Kondisi Menantang

Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) mencatat, industri dapen sukarela mengelola aset Rp 392,56 triliun per Juli 2025, alias meningkat 4,66%.

INDEKS BERITA