North Korea is monitoring the movements of migratory birds in the country as part of anti-epidemic efforts, state media reported on Wednesday, amid authorities’ fears that birds could carry COVID-19.

“The travel routes of migratory birds are constantly observed at some 1,800 spots across the country,” the Rodong Sinum stated in an article about the DPRK’s response to its ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. 

A previous Rodong Sinmun article published on June 2 similarly stated that officials are “monitoring migratory birds’ place while strengthening quarantine in coastal areas to block the malicious virus,” using a term for COVID-