9 Additional Cases of Variants from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil Confirmed... Total of 27 Cases in Korea (Update)

Variant virus infections from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil are being confirmed one after another in Korea. The photo shows the COVID-19 testing center set up at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Nine additional patients infected with new variants of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which are spreading overseas, have been confirmed.

According to the whole genome sequencing analysis results announced by the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 25th, four confirmed cases from the United Kingdom, three from South Africa, and one from Brazil were found to be infected with variant viruses. Previously, a total of 18 cases had been confirmed as variant viruses by the 18th, and with the additional 9 cases confirmed on this day, the total number of variant virus cases in the country has increased to 27. Among them, 19 cases are from the UK variant, 5 from South Africa, and 3 from Brazil.

Of the 9 newly confirmed cases, 7 were diagnosed with COVID-19 during quarantine, and the remaining 2 were confirmed through tests conducted after entry. Contact tracing of the confirmed cases has so far revealed no further infections. However, among three individuals who entered the country accompanied by family members, one family member each has been confirmed positive for COVID-19. The health authorities explained, "One of them was confirmed not to be a variant strain, and the other two are still under testing."

The health authorities have been continuously preparing countermeasures as variant viruses with potentially increased transmissibility have been reported successively from countries such as the UK, South Africa, and Brazil. Measures being implemented include ▲strengthening quarantine for entrants ▲genetic analysis of imported cases ▲monitoring of countries where variants have emerged.

Additionally, to strengthen quarantine measures for these countries, the following are being pursued: ▲expanding the submission requirement of PCR negative certificates to include nationals ▲testing all entrants at temporary living facilities and confirming results before self-quarantine ▲14-day facility quarantine for nationals who do not submit prior PCR tests. PCR-related measures are already in effect for the UK and South Africa, while for Brazil, the expansion of submission requirements started on the 25th, and facility quarantine for nationals without submission will begin on the 29th.

The health authorities also plan to continuously verify the presence of variant viruses through whole genome sequencing (NGS) analysis for all confirmed cases entering from countries where variant viruses have emerged.