North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday declared a “radiant victory” over Covid-19 after officials reported no new cases of the virus for almost two weeks.
Kim chaired a meeting with health workers and scientists and announced a “victory… in the war against the vicious pandemic,” according to state news agency KCNA.
The isolated country, which has maintained a rigid coronavirus lockdown since the pandemic began, announced an omicron outbreak in the capital Pyongyang in May and activated a “maximum emergency epidemic prevention system.”
In case reports, North Korea speaks more of “fever patients” than “Covid patients”, apparently due to a lack of testing capacities.
Pyongyang has not reported any new cases of the virus since July 29.
According to KCNA, Kim said, “Our people’s victory is a historic event that has once again shown the world the greatness of our state, the indomitable tenacity of our people, and the beautiful national customs we are proud of.”
At the end of Kim’s speech, “the audience erupted in thunderous cheers of ‘Hooray!’ out. reiterates with tears the great exploits and devoted service to the people he rendered to achieve a glorious victory that will go down in history”.
Kim also held a photo session with the attendees and senior officials, which she filled “with great excitement and joy.”
North Korea has recorded nearly 4.8 million infections with just 74 deaths since the end of April, according to KCNA, for an official fatality rate of 0.002 percent.
The country has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world, with poorly equipped hospitals, few intensive care units and no drugs or vaccines to treat Covid-19, experts say.
In contrast, South Korea – with its advanced healthcare systems and highly vaccinated population – has a reported Covid fatality rate of 0.12 percent, according to official figures.
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