Kim Jong Un ordered the military to stabilize the supply of drugs in Pyongyang amid the COVID-19 outbreak, KCNA reported.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to stabilize the supply of drugs in Pyongyang a few days later lock notification After the outbreak of COVID-19, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea admitted for the first time last week that it was battling an “explosive” COVID-19 outbreak, with experts raising concerns that the virus could wreak havoc on a country with a limited supply of resources. limited medical supply and no vaccine program.
The state news agency said the country had an additional 392,920 people with fever symptoms, with eight new deaths.
It did not report how many suspected cases had tested positive for COVID-19. North Korea does not have a COVID vaccine, antiviral treatment or mass testing capacity.
The regime of Kim Jong Un insisted the country was free of the corona virus until a few days ago.
State media say 50 people have now died – and more than a million workers have been mobilized to contain the spread.
At an emergency meeting of the Politburo, which took place on Sunday, Kim criticized the “irresponsible” working attitude and ability to organize and run the Cabinet and the public health industry, KCNA reported. .
“The officials of the Cabinet and the public health sector in charge of the supply did not roll up their sleeves, did not correctly view the current crisis, but only spoke of the spirit of devotion to serving the people,” KCNA said. with officials.
The government ordered the distribution of the national drug stockpile, but Kim said state-procedure drugs did not reach people in a timely and accurate manner through pharmacies, the report said.
‘Negligent’
Kim ordered the deployment of a “strong force” of the medical corps to “immediately stabilize the drug supply in the city of Pyongyang”.
KCNA also reported that Kim visited pharmacies located near the Taedong River in Pyongyang to learn about the supply and sale of drugs.
Kim said pharmacies are not well equipped to carry out their functions smoothly, have no proper medicine storage areas other than display counters, and sales staff are not equipped with protective clothing. suitable birth.
North Korea says “a large proportion” of the deaths so far are due to the people’s “carelessness in taking medicines due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of the stealthy Omicron variant virus infection and its methods.” correct treatment.”
While North Korea has maintained a strict coronavirus lockdown since the pandemic began, experts say the outbreak of Omicron in the region means it is only a matter of time before COVID spreads to the country.
