North Korea on highest alert to protect Pyongyang from coronavirus
In this undated photo distributed Feb. 7 by the North Korean government, workers produce face masks to help prevent spread of a new coronavirus in Pyongyang. AP
North Korea is exerting every effort to prevent the new coronavirus from reaching Pyongyang, the country's state media said Saturday.
The capital's anti-epidemic headquarters is meticulously carrying out testing and disinfection measures at every road into Pyongyang and at the same time strengthening all tests and medical monitoring, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, even though no confirmed case has been reported in the North
North Korea announced Friday that it had restructured departments at its Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters so that responsibilities were rearranged to better deal with the virus.
The KCNA said all Pyongyang residents with records of overseas trips would undergo examinations, with the city government putting extra efforts into secure testing methods.
Thoroughly blocking the novel coronavirus is a vital responsibility of protecting the safety and lives of the people, the KCNA said.
Earlier, the country shut down all air and railway routes across its borders with China, which has already reported more than 700 deaths. Pyongyang also declared the launch of a national emergency system against the virus last month, calling it a "political matter" that could determine the fate of the country. (Yonhap)