North Korea has now tested just 922 people for COVID-19, an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) told NK News on Tuesday, suggesting only 200 have been tested for the virus since April.

The figures, provided in an email by WHO Representative to the DPRK Edwin Salvador, represent the first update on the COVID-19 situation in North Korea from the organization in two months.

“As per the update received on 19 June, 922 people have been tested for COVID-19 and all tested negative,” Salvador said, adding that 443 people have been quarantined since May 7.

“While 204 have been discharged from quarantine between June 6 and 19, as many as 255 remain under quarantine,” he continued. All are reportedly DPRK nationals.

Tuesday’s update also brings the total number of those released from quarantine in North Korea to 25,551, according to the WHO official.

The WHO last released official data on COVID-19 in North Korea on April 17, when it reported that 740 people had been tested for the virus and 25,139 had been released from quarantine.

The DPRK Ministry of Public Health has been sharing “weekly updates” with the WHO on the situation and measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official said on Tuesday, stressing that the country was following WHO guidelines aimed at preventing the epidemic.

“All suspected cases (mild, moderate, or severe) are quarantined in the designated county or provincial hospitals for management and there is no home quarantine for suspected mild cases,” Salvador told NK News.

BORDER REMAINS CLOSED, BUT CHINA DONATES REAGENTS

North Korea has long claimed to have no confirmed cases of the coronavirus within its territory — claims reaffirmed by the WHO on Tuesday.

Despite this, North Korean state media as recently as this week called on readers “not to loosen up” in “emergency quarantine work” against the pandemic.

The country’s borders, largely closed since January, remain so, the WHO representative said Tuesday.

“Goods are being transported into the country through sea route from Dalian, China, to Nampo, DPRK seaport, and the Sinuiju land border,” Salvador said.

Rules requiring the quarantining of imports at ports for ten days also remain in place, he added.

The 255 DPRK nationals under quarantine at the moment, he continued, are laborers “working at the seaport and Sinuiju-Dandong land border.”

“They have been quarantined after handling goods arriving into the country.”

Despite these restrictions, medical supplies reportedly continue to enter North Korea.

“Medicines and medical supplies, including vaccines, have been prioritized for transportation into the country amidst the COVID-19 situation to ensure that health services remain accessible to the population,” Salvador said.

Asked how much diagnostic equipment is currently available, the WHO official responded that “primers and probes to support 1000 tests” have reached the DPRK.

“WHO has been supporting DPR Korea with essential supplies of PPEs (Personal Protective Equipments) and other medical supplies to strengthen the COVID-19 response,” he said.

In addition, he continued, China last week donated “900 PPEs along with laboratory reagents” to the DPRK Ministry of Public Health.

“An additional 2000 PPEs from Dubai will reach Pyongyang shortly,” the official added, saying that there are currently “15 laboratories designated to test COVID-19 in the country including provincial laboratories.”

BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT SOCIAL DISTANCING CONTINUES

Salvador on Tuesday also confirmed North Korean state media reporting that the country’s schools had re-opened in early June.

“All educational institutions including primary schools are now open,” he said, adding that the students remain required to wear masks and that in-school “washing stations” had been installed.

Strict social distancing and hygiene campaign reportedly continues in the North, too.

“Temperature checks using infrared thermometers, hand washing facilities, and sanitizers continue to be in place in all public places including shopping malls, restaurants, and hotels,” Salvador said.

It is still “mandatory” for all people to wear masks in public places, the official said, and “no public gatherings are allowed.”

Salvador did not immediately respond to an NK News request for clarity on that claim, which is at odds with North Korean state media reporting on mass rallies in the DPRK capital in recent weeks.

Edited by Oliver Hotham