While the whole world has been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, North Korea informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) that it tested more than 30,000 people for COVID-19 through June 10, however, it was yet to find a single infection.
WHO, in its monitoring report, stated on Tuesday that North Korea's testing figures included 733 people who were tested for coronavirus during June 4-10.
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Of these, 149 were found to have influenza-like illnesses or severe respiratory infections.
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However, the experts doubt North Korea's claim that it has not had a single case of coronavirus. It is because of the country's poor health infrastructure and porous border with China, its major ally and economic lifeline.
It is pertinent to mention that North Korea has banned tourists, jetted out diplomats, and severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade.
Indeed, the self-imposed lockdown has caused a strain on an economy that has already been battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over the country's nuclear weapons program.
Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a political conference asked officials to brace for prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, indicating that the country wasn't ready to open its borders anytime soon.
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-PTC News