COVID-19 cases are climbing once again in some regions of Yanggang Province. This is noteworthy as it contrasts sharply with North Korea’s confident claims that it has brought the disease under control.
A source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK on Wednesday that “infectious disease” cases have been sharply rising in Kimjongsuk County this month.
“People who caught it once before are suffering as they present high fevers once again,” he said.
According to the source, suspected cases of COVID-19 have been rising in border regions of Yanggang Province since early this month, primarily in Kimjongsuk County.
The sick are suffering from high fevers and other coronavirus symptoms. However, with diagnostic kits unavailable, doctors are unable to accurately diagnose whether patients have COVID-19, so local authorities are drawing their own conclusions based on fevers and other symptoms.
In one neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More in downtown Kimjongsuk County, about 20 of the roughly 40 people who previously displayed fevers and other COVID-19 symptoms are once again suffering symptoms this month. With another 10 or so people displaying COVID-19 symptoms for the first time this month, the neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More in question currently has about 30 suspected COVID-19 cases.
In another neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More, about 20 people are reportedly complaining of suspected COVID-19 symptoms, including about 10 people suffering renewed symptoms after previously displaying coronavirus symptoms. The total includes an entire family that is suffering from fever and other symptoms.
With suspected COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, local doctors are going around to each family in their jurisdiction three times a day to check their health.
However, local residents are hiding their fevers from the authorities, afraid that renewed full-scale lockdowns could follow if the realities are reported to Pyongyang.
Already facing unprecedentedly tough economic times, locals would face even more difficulties if the authorities lock down Kimjongsuk County. A lockdown would lead to shorter market hours or suspended market operations. As such, people who depend on market activities for their livelihoods naturally want to avoid saying they are sick.
Moreover, even if they were to complain of symptoms, they would still have to buy their own medicines and possibly spend days in isolation. This is another reason why people are hiding their symptoms from the authorities.
“How absurd it is that we live in a world where you can’t say you’re sick when you’re actually sick,” said the source. “If it was like living in a prison without bars on the window before COVID-19, now it’s like living in hell.
“The border closures and regional lockdowns due to the coronavirus have turned the problem of getting by into a question of life or death,” he continued, adding, “But because the government focuses entirely on emergency quarantine efforts, people with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 are hiding that fact just to survive.”
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