North Korea enters lockdown amid detection of COVID cases

North Korea has entered a strict national lockdown following the confirmation of its first official case of COVID-19

According to North Korean state media, an Omicron outbreak in the country’s capital of Pyongyang has been detected, but the exact number of cases remain unknown.

North Korea’s KCNA stated it was “the biggest emergency incident” that breached the country’s “quarantine front.”

According to the same report, the country’s leader Kim Jong-un was in emergency talks to prepare the nation’s response.

Are North Koreans vaccinated against COVID-19?

North Korea has not officially rolled out a coronavirus vaccine programme.

North Korea has rejected offers to use the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine and AstraZeneca jabs.

Instead, the nation had aimed to keep out the virus by keeping its borders closed since the start of the pandemic.

The hard border situation however has led the country into a fragile economic state, with reports of mass food shortages and critical supplies.

Has COVID been in North Korea undetected?

There have been signs that the virus may be quietly spreading in North Korea.

Since 2020 when the pandemic was first declared, there have been numerous “unconfirmed” cases of the virus in North Korea.

The country’s neighbours, China and South Korea, have also both seen outbreaks – with China right now keeping firm on its “COVID-Zero” policy – with city’s like Shanghai right now in lockdown.