North Korea reports 42 COVID-19 deaths amid nationwide lockdown

North Korea said on Sunday a total of 42 people had died as the country began its fourth day under a nationwide lockdown aimed at stopping the impoverished country’s first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak.

North Korea confirmed the COVID outbreak for the first-time on Thursday and issued the order to lock down. KCNA, the state news agency said the country was taking “swift state emergency measures” to control the epidemic.

“All provinces, cities and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted,” KCNA reported on Sunday.

Kim Jong Un was North Korea’s leader a day earlier said the spread of COVID-19 had thrust his country into “great turmoil” and called for an all-out battle to overcome the outbreak.

KCNA reported that Health authorities had created more epidemic prevention points and urgently transported medical equipment to hospitals and clinics. Meanwhile, senior officials had donated reserves medicines.

According to the outlet, at least 296,180 more people developed fever symptoms, while 15 more died on Sunday. said.

Experts claim that North Korea lacks the capability to test for symptomatic patients in their tens or thousands. The KCNA didn’t report the number of cases that had been suspected to have tested positive for COVID-19.

North Korea has reported 820620 suspected cases. 324,550 remain under medical treatment. said.

— Reporting by Josh Smith