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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

North Korea Confirms First Covid-19 Death in 'Explosive' Outbreak

North Korea Covid-19 North South Korea Omicron Kim Jong KCNA Pyongyang China Pandemic
North Korea has been under a rigid coronavirus blockade since the start of the pandemic in 2020, but with massive Omicron outbreaks in all neighboring countries, experts said it was only a matter of time before Covid snuck in Anthony WALLACE AFP/File

North Korea confirmed its first ever Covid-19 death on Friday, saying fever was spreading "explosively" nationwide and tens of thousands of people were being isolated and treated after falling sick.

The nuclear-armed country only reported its first Covid cases Thursday, saying it was moving into "maximum emergency epidemic prevention system" after sick patients in the capital Pyongyang tested positive for Omicron, AFP said.

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