COVID-19 outbreak grows in North Korea

North Korea today reported eight new deaths and 392,920 more people with fevers amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak as leader Kim Jong Un blasted officials over delays in medicine deliveries and ordered his military to get involved in the pandemic response.

The North’s emergency anti-virus headquarters said more than 1.2 million people fell ill amid a rapid spread of fever since late April and about 564,860 are currently under quarantine. The eight new deaths reported in the 24 hours through 6 p.m. Sunday brought its death toll to 50.

State media didn’t specify how many of the fever cases and deaths were confirmed as COVID-19 cases.

Its population of 26 million people are believed to be mostly unvaccinated.