North Korea reports no new deaths for 3rd day amid COVID-19 outbreak
A sign depicting a scene of medical products being transported is displayed in an empty street, amid growing fears over the spread of COVID-19 in Pyongyang, May 23. Reuters-Yonhap
North Korea reported no new deaths from COVID-19 for the third consecutive day, Thursday, but added over 105,000 new suspected cases amid its coronavirus outbreak.
Some 105,500 people showed symptoms of “fever,” but no deaths were reported over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters.
The total number of cases since late April, in the nation with a population of 24 million, came to more than 3.17 million as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, of which more than 2.9 million have recovered and at least 271,810 are being treated, it added. The death toll remains at 68.
The daily tally has been on a downward trend in recent days, with new cases under 200,000 for the fifth day in a row after reaching over 392,920, May 15.
The North continued to urge people to remain vigilant in its fight against the virus, with the Rodong Sinmun, the country's main newspaper, carrying an article emphasizing the importance of disinfection.
"Strengthening disinfection work is a vital issue that determines the protection of precious lives, livelihood and future from the malignant virus," it said.
On May 12, North Korea reported its first COVID-19 case after claiming to be coronavirus-free for over two years and implemented a nationwide lockdown as it declared a shift to a "maximum emergency" virus control system. (Yonhap)