Asia
North Korea reported 232,880 more people with fever symptoms, and six more deaths as leader Kim Jong-un accused government officials of inadequacies in handling the escalating Covid-19 outbreak.
Even as the unvaccinated nation faces a collapse of its health system, Pyongyang has rebuffed aid offers from South Korea and the UN.
Unvaccinated North Korea is unlikely to accept help from the South as it would be viewed as undermining Kim Jong-un’s authority, an analyst says.
Photos of the April 25 parade showed huge crowds at Pyongyang’s Kim Il-sung Square unmasked and not socially distanced. Three weeks later, North Korea has more than 1 million cases and at least 50 people have died.
State media did not specify how many of the cases were confirmed as Covid-19. Eight new deaths on Monday brought the toll from North Korea’s outbreak to 50. Most of the country’s 26 million people are thought to be unvaccinated.
Public health message says most Omicron patients will have mild symptoms.
Sate media said a total of 42 people had died, with 324,550 still under medical treatment.
The leader said she was ‘gutted’ to miss two major announcements in parliament next week, but ‘isolating with Covid-19 is a very Kiwi experience this year’.
Health authorities say at least 30 infections have been detected among diners and staff at Sky Cuisine restaurant in Sheung Wan, with one of the customers aged 117.
Finance ministers and central bank governors from Japan, China and South Korea on Thursday warned of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine to Asia’s economic recovery.
Health officials reveal that five cases, involving four families, have recently been uncovered in West Terrace, one of five blocks in Sai Wan Estate.
When able to keep a distance from others, people do not necessarily need to wear masks, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said – especially considering the risks of heatstroke as temperatures rise.
City leader Carrie Lam says she could allow for ‘a more relaxed environment’ to celebrate the anniversary.
Top infectious disease expert Professor Ivan Hung, convenor of a vaccine committee, says tracking wristbands and regular PCR tests can accompany move.
The World Health Organization’s estimate is around 10 times the country’s official Covid-19 death toll for 2020-21. India’s health ministry said the world health body ‘conveniently chose to ignore the available data’.
If Covid-19 is bound to persist in Hong Kong, what does that mean for city’s containment approach modelled on mainland China’s, they ask.
Cap on patrons per table at eateries to be expanded to eight from the current four, while beaches, swimming pools and water playgrounds can reopen.
The country reopened on Monday to about 60 visa-waiver countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. Most tourists from India, China and other non-waiver countries are still not allowed to enter.
Professor David Hui cites sufficient hotel facilities and waning wave of local infections.
Business leaders warn that city risks losing out by retaining restrictions while rivals are opening up and moving on swiftly.