Kim Jong Un declares state of emergency & imposes city lockdown over suspected Covid-19 case

The suspected patient has been quarantined.

Syahindah Ishak | July 26, 2020, 02:39 PM

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared a state of emergency in the affected area after a suspected Covid-19 case returned from South Korea, North Korean state media KCNA reported on July 26.

Kim has also imposed a total lockdown on Kaesong City and isolated the individual districts and regions.

Returned from South Korea illegally

According to KCNA, Kim said that this was a "critical situation in which the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country."

The suspected case had gone to South Korea three years ago and returned on July 19 after illegally crossing the border.

If confirmed, this would be the first Covid-19 case officially acknowledged by the North Korean authorities.

KCNA also reported that an intensive investigation of the military unit responsible for the runaway case was launched.

Severe punishment and necessary measures will be administered once the investigation completes.

Put under strict quarantine

KCNA did not specifically state if the suspected case had been tested.

However, it said that an "uncertain result was made from several medical check-ups of the secretion of that person’s upper respiratory organ and blood".

The suspected case was put under strict quarantine as a primary step.

Additionally, all persons in Kaesong City who contacted the suspected case and those who have been to the city in the last five days are being thoroughly investigated, given medical examination, and put under quarantine.

Top image from KCNA.