North Korea sees increase in possible COVID cases

North Korea has reported an increase in possible cases of the coronavirus in the wake of reports that it had lifted restrictions on free movement in order to prevent the spread of the infection in the capital of Pyongyang. Some 100,710 fevers were reported in the 24-hour period that ended on Sunday evening, state media reported the following day, the first time that suspected cases of the coronavirus rose above 100,000 in the last three days. There have been more than 3.55 million cases reported of COVID-19 in North Korea since the end of April though the official death toll is 70. The country reported an outbreak of the omicron variant in mid-May. Most North Koreans are not vaccinated against the virus.