North Korea, where almost the entire population is not vaccinated and has no access to antiviral drugs, is struggling with the coronavirus.
At the beginning of 2020, North Korea had closed its borders as cases of coronavirus began to spread rapidly around the world.
Trying to avoid the pandemic in this way, the administration also refused to seek outside medical help.
Today, coronavirus cases have started to be seen in those thousands of people, and the loss of life is recorded.
The state media, on the other hand, recommends traditional methods against the disease, which it describes as “high fever”.
HOT DRINKS
For those who do not have a very severe illness, Rodong Simnun, the newspaper of the governing party, recommends drinking herbal teas such as ginger tea and honeysuckle tea.
Hot drinks can relieve some Covid-19 symptoms. For example, it can be good for a sore throat and cough, and it helps patients who lose more fluid than normal to compensate for this loss.
Ginger tea is also known to reduce inflammation and pain.
However, none of these are a treatment method for the destruction of the virus.
SALTWATER
State media recently covered an interview with a couple who gargle with salt water day and night.
In order to create this “antiseptic solution”, a thousand tons of salt was sent to the Capital Pyongyang.
Some studies say that salt water can help fight viruses that cause colds in both the throat and nose.
However, there is little evidence that this method prevents the spread of the coronavirus.
Covid enters the body by breathing in particles in the air. So even if the mouthwash prevents the virus taken from the mouth, the nasal passage is still open for the virus.
After entering the body, gargling is not an option to prevent the virus from multiplying and spreading to the organs.
PAIN RELIEF AND ANTIBIOTICS
State television announced that patients can take painkillers such as iburophen, and that they can use antibiotics such as amoxicillin.
Ibuprofen (and other paracetamols) can reduce fever and relieve headaches and sore throat. However, this is not a solution to clean up the virus and stop it from multiplying.
Antibiotics that are effective not only against viruses but also against bacterial infectious diseases are not recommended.
Antibiotic studies have not reduced the hospitalization of Covid patients to date.
HEALTH SYSTEM
North Korea’s healthcare system provides some basic free care and treatment, with free specialized treatment available in city centres.
However, in recent years, due to the worsening of the economy, sanctions and bad weather conditions leading to famine, it has been difficult to reach the necessary drugs and equipment for treatments.
Especially outside of Pyongyang, there are not enough health workers. The problems in the health system have also been reflected in the United Nations reports in recent years.
State television says that both health equipment and medicines have been purchased intensively recently and the demand will be met.
INTERNATIONAL AID
North Korea last year rejected the 3 million doses of Chinese vaccine offered by China under its global vaccination plan, Covax.
However, he recently sent three empty planes to Shenyang, China. Planes are planned to take medical supplies and return to the country.