North Korea Ramps Up COVID‑Testing in a Whole New Direction
State‑Media Updates on the First COVID‑Outbreak
On Friday, May 27, the official KCNA news agency reported that North Korean health officials have begun a sweeping audit of the environment—testing rivers, lakes, the air, household sewage, and even garbage—for signs of the coronavirus. The move comes as the isolated country tightens its grip on the country‑wide lockdown, declaring a state of emergency and dreading shortages of vaccines, medical supplies, and food.
Current Numbers at a Glance
- New fever cases: 100,460 as of Thursday evening (down from nearly 400,000 ten days ago)
- Total confirmed fever cases since April: 3,270,850 among 25 million people
- Deaths: 69 (up by one from the previous figure)
Testing Across the Land
The emergency anti‑epidemic sectors, according to KCNA, prioritize samples from natural sources—rivers, lakes—as well as man‑made knots like sewage streams and piles of trash. They are also disinfecting hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of sewage each day and checking thousands of tons of garbage for the dreaded virus.
What the Video Shows
A KCNA‑provided clip featured a line of officials in protective gear, carrying boxes marked “specimen carrier” or “bacteria, virus tester.” Beside them were emergency workers in Pyongyang, holding sample kits.
“We’re collecting samples from people with fevers and testing the drinks produced at water factories in Pyongyang to ensure they’re clean and safe,” said Jo Chol‑ung, vice chief of the Pyongyang Municipal Hygienic and Anti‑Epidemic Centre. Reuters could not verify the footage independently.
Why the Numbers May Under‑represent the Reality
Experts caution that the reported figures likely underestimate the spread—especially since North Korea reports coughs and fevers rather than confirmed positive PCR results. While the regime claims to have developed its own PCR testing equipment, it never reveals how many have tested positive.
In sum, the country is turning a blind eye to the usual pitfalls, hoping a fresh batch of environmental tests will help it manage the pandemic’s darkest chapter. And with the state‑media’s optimism (fevers supposedly subsiding, low death toll), the nation may be buying time—while the world watches on.
