In North Korea, the mask regime is strictly observed, but the authorities did not impose a lockdown due to the coronavirus. Such details of the quarantine in one of the most closed countries in the world were shared by the third secretary of the Russian embassy, Vladislav Sorokin, who returned from the DPRK on a railcar, the Lenta.ru correspondent reports.
The diplomat explained that in North Korea, wearing masks has become mandatory since the end of January 2020. Sorokin noted that diplomats doubted whether government orders would be strictly observed in rural areas, but during a trip to the border, they were convinced of the opposite. “We drove across the country, looked out of the train window – even lonely passers-by, North Korean peasants were all wearing masks. [North Korea] is probably a truly unique country, where every person is wearing a mask, not only indoors, but also outdoors, ”he said.
The diplomat explained such a strict observance of measures by self-awareness and a high degree of self-organization of the country's inhabitants. “No matter how strict the state is, theoretically, it alone cannot force everyone to wear masks. You can't attach to every soldier, ”he explained.
Sorokin also said that at the entrance to any building and public transport there are specially trained people who treat everyone's hands with an alcohol solution and measure their temperature. “At some point, restaurants began to work until nine in the evening, but there is no such thing as a complete lockdown,” the diplomat said.
The “journey” of the diplomats became known on the evening of February 25. The Russians were unable to leave the territory of the neighboring country in the usual way, since passenger traffic between Russia and the DPRK was interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the Russians traveled to the border area by public transport, but they had to cross the Tumannaya River, which separates the countries, on a railway bridge on a non-self-propelled railcar.
In December, it was reported that North Korea has stepped up measures against the coronavirus, which, according to official reports, has not yet penetrated. In particular, the propaganda “to establish an atmosphere of vigilance” among the population was expanded, and disinfection measures in public places were strengthened. The CTAC claims that the country's authorities are taking the pandemic seriously.
