Pressing Esc in JupyterLab makes command mode unresponsive

After pressing Esc in Jupyterlab to enter command mode no other keys can be registered. For example, jk wont work for going up or down, b will not create a new line, etc. However, if I first touch the screen anywhere within the Carnets app, the command mode keys work as expected. It is as if the window loses focus on Esc. Despite the easy workaround it breaks the keyboard-only workflow.
I use Logitech folio keyboard with the CapsLock key remapped to Esc. Same problem when emulating Esc with ctrl+m.

Reproduce issue 249 in Carnets with an external keyboard, using Esc or Ctrl+M to enter command mode, then inspect the JupyterLab command-mode focus handling and Carnets keyboard integration. Done means command-mode keys work immediately after Esc without tapping the screen, with the keyboard-only workflow restored.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.