North Korea, one of only a handful of countries did not announce reported COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, the test is continuing. It has more than 500 people in quarantine, the World Health Organization (WHO) told on Tuesday.
The WHO, which said it had received “weekly reports” from the Ministry of Health, said the reclusive country had the capacity to study coronaviruses in its national reference laboratory in Pyongyang, the capital.
COVID-19 in North Korea has No Reported
“As of April 2, 709 people tested on COVID-19. It included 11 foreigners and 698 residents. As a result, case for COVID-19 has no reported. However, there are 509 people in quarantine-two foreigners and 507 nationals, “said Dr. Edwin Salvador, representative of the WHO to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in an email reply.
“Since 31 December, 24,842 people have been released from the quarantine, including 380 foreigners,” he said.
In January, he said, the WHO told that North Korea obtained primers and probes from its ally China for use with PCR diagnostic tests. The WHO’s provided security equipment materials.
The WHO’s website shows the current global tally at approximately 1.3 million officially registered cases. 72,614 deaths in some 206 countries and territories apparently excluding North Korea, Lesotho, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Yemen.
No Missile Programs during the Pandemic
A U.N. human rights expert has called for lifting international sanctions against countries like North Korea-based on its nuclear and missile programs. It aims to ensure that food supplies enter starving people during the pandemic. Therefore, the nuclear and missile programs are prohibited.
In February, the Geneva-based WHO said North Korea had confirmed checking nearly 7,300 travelers over a period of six weeks to Feb. 9. The health ministry said that the novel coronavirus had tested negative for 141 travelers with fevers, it said.
Some international experts have expressed suspicions that there are no infections in North Korea. Nevertheless, shares borders with China and South Korea, both hard-hit by epidemics.
