Economist Podcasts Pestilent peninsula: covid in North Korea
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May 19, 2022 North Korea's zero-covid strategy has failed, revealing a dire health crisis exacerbated by tuberculosis and malnutrition. Meanwhile, Turkey is grappling with rising anti-refugee sentiment amid political turmoil, as politicians scapegoat refugees to gain votes. On a different note, the educational landscape in the Arab world shows girls consistently outperforming boys, highlighting significant disparities in motivation and literacy among genders. These discussions reveal complex interactions between health, politics, and education in challenging socio-economic climates.
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North Korea's COVID Crisis
- North Korea's zero-covid strategy has failed, with a surge in fever cases.
- The official count is low, but likely hiding a much larger outbreak.
North Korea's Isolation
- North Korea isolated itself, restricted travel, and stopped flights to combat COVID-19.
- Unlike other countries, it refused vaccines and chose isolation.
Reasons for Vaccine Refusal
- North Korea declined vaccine offers due to fears of virus spread and information gathering.
- Rumors about AstraZeneca's vaccine safety may have also contributed.