COVID-19 lockdown imposed in Pyongyang for five days

• A five-day lockdown in North Korea’s capital.
• People in the capital appeared to be in a panic.
• It is unclear whether the lockdown extended beyond Pyongyang.

Pyongyang: A five-day lockdown of the capital Pyongyang has been ordered by North Korea due to an increase in cases of an unidentified respiratory illness.

The Seoul-based outlet that covers North Korea reported that residents were required to stay in their homes until the end of Sunday and submit to multiple temperature checks every day, citing a government announcement.

The notice did not specifically mention COVID-19, but North Korea did not do so during its first outbreak last year, when it only mentioned “fever” cases.

People in the capital appeared to be “panic-buying food in large quantities” on Tuesday, amid rumors of a lockdown.

Due to limited testing capabilities, North Korea acknowledged its first COVID-19 outbreak last year but did not provide the precise number of cases. In August, it declared “victory” over the outbreak.

State media has not yet covered the lockdown order, but has continued to cover anti-pandemic measures to combat respiratory illnesses like the flu.

At celebrations for the Lunar New Year, Pyongyang residents were photographed wearing face masks, some of them double-masking or donning masks of a higher grade.

It was unclear whether the lockdown extended beyond Pyongyang.

Since abandoning its zero-COVID policy late last year, China, North Korea’s main ally and trading partner has seen an increase in cases.

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