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World / Asia

N.Korea discusses revising COVID curbs, outbreak 'improving'

Published: 29 May 2022 - 11:09 am | Last Updated: 29 May 2022 - 11:10 am
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at a politburo meeting of the Worker's Party on the country's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak response in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 28, 2022, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) May 29, 2022. KCNA via REUTERS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at a politburo meeting of the Worker's Party on the country's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak response in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 28, 2022, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) May 29, 2022. KCNA via REUTERS

Reuters

SEOUL: Top North Korean officials discussed revising anti-epidemic restrictions on Sunday as they assessed the situation over the country's first acknowledged COVID-19 outbreak was "improving", state media reported.

A politburo meeting guided by leader Kim Jong Un "made a positive evaluation of the pandemic situation being controlled and improved across the country and discussed the issues of continuously stabilising and improving the overall anti-epidemic situation," said KCNA news agency.

North Korea reported no new deaths among fever patients for a second consecutive day, and said 89,500 more people showed fever symptoms on Sunday.

That is down from nearly 400,000 about 11 days ago.

The isolated country has been fighting an unprecedented COVID wave since declaring a state of emergency and imposing a nationwide lockdown this month, fuelling concerns about lack of vaccines, medical supplies and food.

Efforts to strengthen anti-epidemic measures were being taken across North Korea, including collecting rain water, examining virus-resistant medicines and setting up quarantine places, KCNA said.