The coronavirus is spreading rapidly in North Korea. At the same time, there is no vaccination program in the country and healthcare is severely neglected.
The regime recommends saline, ginger and painkillers in the fight against covid-19.
When the pandemic broke out in early 2020, North Korea closed the border in an attempt to keep the virus away. Until last week, Pyongyang claimed to have succeeded.
But now the virus is spreading rapidly in the closed dictatorship.
On Friday, 263,370 new cases of “fever” are reported, as the regime calls it, writes The Guardian.
Declined vaccine
It is also stated that two more people have died as a result of the feverish disease, which means that about 70 deaths have now been registered according to official statistics.
It is unclear if all victims really have covid. Experts claim that North Korea does not have the capacity required to mass test for the disease and the official figures are judged to be manipulated.
North Korea has also turned down offers of vaccine deliveries from several countries, including China.
Unscientific methods
Instead of vaccines, citizens are urged to resort to unscientific methods both for recovery and for preventive purposes, reports the BBC with reference to state-controlled media.
The party organ Rodong Simnun, the country’s largest newspaper, recommends a tea with ginger or honey for anyone with mild symptoms.
In another article from the state, a couple was interviewed who recommended gargling with salt water morning and evening. According to the regime-controlled news agency KCNA, “a thousand tons” of salt have been delivered to the capital in order to produce an “antiseptic solution”.
Facts
Vaccine against covid-19 in North Korea
North Korea has received several vaccine offers through the international vaccine collaboration Covax – both doses of Astra Zeneca and of Chinese Sinovac.
However, the country has refused – probably due to doubts about its effectiveness and unwillingness to accept surveillance requirements.
North Korea’s healthcare system is described as being in disrepair and lacking the necessary medicines and equipment. The country also lacks the cooling facilities required for both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s variants.
Source: AP, AFP
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