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

Meme Coin BNB Runtuh, Bakal Menular ke Harga Meme Coin Lain?
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 18:00 WIB

Meme Coin BNB Runtuh, Bakal Menular ke Harga Meme Coin Lain?

Pergerakan Meme Coin BNB pada 9 Oktober lalu menjadi sorotan, sebab hanya dalam waktu 24 jam meme coin bertema Cina ini anjlok sangat dalam.

Penurunan IKK September 2025 Punya Imbas Berbeda Bagi ACES, MAPI, ACES dan ERAA
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 13:00 WIB

Penurunan IKK September 2025 Punya Imbas Berbeda Bagi ACES, MAPI, ACES dan ERAA

Analis menyebut dampak dari penurunan indeks keyakinan konsumen ke sektor modern ritel ada, tetapi bisa berbeda-beda tergantung segmen konsumennya

Jejak Radiasi Cesium di Pusaran Mata Rantai Industri Cikande
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 13:00 WIB

Jejak Radiasi Cesium di Pusaran Mata Rantai Industri Cikande

Dampak pencemaran Cesium-137 meluas di kawasan industri Cikande. Satuan Tugas (Satgas) Cs-137 mengindikasikan, ada 22 perusahaan yang terindikasi.

Menilik Peluang Harga RMKO Menuju Harga IPO
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 12:00 WIB

Menilik Peluang Harga RMKO Menuju Harga IPO

Menilai kenaikan RMKE lebih disebabkan oleh sentimen teknikal & spillover effect dari pergerakan saham induknya, PT RMK Energy Tbk (RMKE).

Harga Saham ASII Sudah Melampaui Konsensus, Begini Saran Analis Bagi Investor
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 09:00 WIB

Harga Saham ASII Sudah Melampaui Konsensus, Begini Saran Analis Bagi Investor

Walaupun target harga sudah melampaui konsesus tetapi sentimen di ASII belum habis, semisal rencana spin-off bisnis EV.

Langganan E-Commerce Bukan Sebatas Keinginan
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 09:00 WIB

Langganan E-Commerce Bukan Sebatas Keinginan

Berlangganan di platform e-commerce bisa memotong lebih banyak biaya. Tapi, jangan jadi lebih konsumtif.

Harga Saham CPIN Terkerek Kenaikan Harga Ayam dan Perbaikan Margin
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 07:46 WIB

Harga Saham CPIN Terkerek Kenaikan Harga Ayam dan Perbaikan Margin

PT Charoen Phokpand Indonesia Tbk (CPIN) diprediksi akan mencatatkan kinerja yang lebih baik pada semester II tahun ini.

Harga Tembaga Melejit Gara-Gara Suplai Terancam Defisit
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 07:35 WIB

Harga Tembaga Melejit Gara-Gara Suplai Terancam Defisit

Gangguan produksi di tengah tren peningkatan permintaan, mendongkrak harga tembaga. Tren bullish berlanjut?

Layanan Kesehatan Home Care, Tidak Perlu ke Klinik tapi Dapat Standar yang Sama
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 07:31 WIB

Layanan Kesehatan Home Care, Tidak Perlu ke Klinik tapi Dapat Standar yang Sama

Permintaan layanan kesehatan kini tinggi. Layanan home care yang memberikan kepraktisan yang lebih, coba menjaring pasar ini. 

Bukan Sekadar Proteksi, Asuransi Bisa Jadi Solusi Warisan Finansial
| Minggu, 12 Oktober 2025 | 07:24 WIB

Bukan Sekadar Proteksi, Asuransi Bisa Jadi Solusi Warisan Finansial

Asuransi kini mulai dilihat bukan sekadar alat proteksi saja, tapi juga instrumen warisan modern, lo.

INDEKS BERITA

Terpopuler