While North Korea says its Covid-19 outbreak is under control, state media reported today that the number of cases has dropped for the seventh day in a row and that health workers are “intensifying” detection tests and treatments.

However, experts are questioning the official figures, as the isolated country has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world and likely lacks the drugs to treat the coronavirus or the ability to conduct mass testing.

The Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said that “progress” has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, thanks to the “dedicated efforts” of healthcare professionals.

North Korea announced its first cases of Covid on May 12 and activated the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system. Government leader Kim Jong Un blamed the authorities for the slow response to the outbreak and mobilized the military to work in Pyongyang’s pharmacies.

State media said last weekend that the epidemic was under control, and KCNA reiterated the message on Tuesday.

“Across the country, death rates have dropped significantly,” the news agency said.

It reported more than 100,000 new cases of “fever” on Friday, compared to the 390,000 daily recorded earlier this month. KCNA also reported an additional death on Friday, bringing the total to 69, with the case fatality rate remaining at 0.002%.

North Korea, which rejects vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization, has not vaccinated any of its estimated 25 million people.