"Apply Cream on the Auricle"... North Korea Advises on Mask Wearing Methods Amid Heatwave

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un wearing a mask. Photo by Chosun Central TV screen capture, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Amidst the severe heatwave in North Korea, Rodong Sinmun advised residents on precautions for wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 infection.

On the 2nd, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party, published an article titled "How to Wear Masks During Continued Hot Weather."

The newspaper stated, "When going out in hot weather, prepare several masks and replace them promptly if they become soaked with sweat."

It also warned, "People who sweat heavily sometimes place a layer of sanitary paper (toilet paper) inside medical masks, but doing so affects the mask’s fit and reduces its effectiveness."

Furthermore, it urged that both disposable medical masks and medical surgical masks have limited usage time and should not be worn for more than 8 hours.

To prepare for skin inflammation caused by prolonged mask-wearing, the newspaper shared a so-called "helpful tip."

The newspaper explained, "If you must wear a mask for a long time, applying cream to the nose, under the eyes, and around the ears can reduce friction between the mask and skin. If pimples develop on the skin, ointment should be applied promptly."

Although North Korea publicly claims to have controlled the spread of COVID-19 in the shortest possible time, it appears to be concerned that compliance with preventive measures such as mask-wearing may be generally lax in the hot weather, potentially worsening the situation.

Additionally, the newspaper recommended frequent indoor ventilation, stating, "People indoors continuously breathe air exhaled by others. Virus-containing airborne droplets can spread far indoors, so ventilation can reduce the number of virus-laden particles."