[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Two additional patients infected with new variants of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that are spreading overseas have been confirmed.
According to the whole genome sequencing results announced by the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 18th, one patient each who entered from the Republic of South Africa and Brazil was identified as carrying variant viruses. Previously, 16 people were confirmed to have variant viruses from late last year to early this month, and with the addition of these two, the total number of confirmed variant virus cases in the country has risen to 18. Among them, 15 cases are from the UK variant, 2 from South Africa, and 1 from Brazil.
The newly identified patient with the Brazil variant virus departed from Brazil, transited through Germany, and entered the country on the 10th. The patient was confirmed positive through diagnostic testing during quarantine and was immediately transferred to a medical institution on the same day, so authorities believe the possibility of further domestic transmission is low. Gwak Jin, head of the patient management team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "We have identified about four close contacts during the pre-entry and in-flight stages, but so far, there have been no additional confirmed cases," adding, "We still consider the possibility of community transmission to be low."
In response to reports of variant viruses with potentially increased transmissibility spreading in countries such as the UK and South Africa, the quarantine authorities have expanded genomic analyses domestically. Since October last year, whole genome sequencing has been conducted on 58 confirmed cases imported from overseas. Expanding the scope to the past year, a total of 2,291 samples (1,697 domestic and 594 overseas) including domestic patients have undergone additional analysis.
To prevent the domestic introduction of variant viruses, our quarantine authorities have strengthened quarantine measures for incoming travelers since last month and expanded monitoring by country. Starting today, the diagnostic testing interval after entry for all overseas arrivals will be shortened from within 3 days to within 1 day. All confirmed cases entering from countries where variant viruses have emerged will undergo whole genome sequencing.
Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, explained, "The UK and South African variants have been reported to have about 1.5 times increased transmissibility, and the Brazil variant is suspected to have increased transmissibility, but clear evidence has not yet been confirmed," adding, "Evidence regarding clinical severity or the impact on vaccine effectiveness is still under study."
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