North Koreans in Pyongyang appear to be panic-buying food in large quantities, an informed source in the city told NK News on Tuesday, amid rumors that officials could order a new multiday lockdown over infectious disease concerns as soon as midnight.

The source reported that Pyongyang citizens are buying large amounts of food at stores, as well as a notable buildup in traffic throughout the day. A similar phenomenon occurred in April 2020, when the DPRK significantly reduced official imports from neighboring China.