COVID-19 Variant 'Omicron' Epicenter South Africa Sees Fourfold Increase in Cases in One Week

A woman is walking past a TV repair shop in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 26th (local time). The World Health Organization (WHO) is consulting with South African authorities regarding the detection of the new COVID-19 variant 'B.1.1.529.60' in South Africa. As a result, many flights connecting South Africa and Europe have been suspended.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has recently surged in South Africa, identified as the origin of the new Omicron variant.

According to the COVID-19 information portal operated by the South African Department of Health on the 27th (local time), the daily confirmed cases in South Africa reached 2,828 on the 26th, marking the highest number in two months since September 22.

The day before, on the 25th, there were 2,456 cases; on the 24th, 1,275 cases; on the 23rd, 868 cases; and on the 22nd, 312 cases.

During this period, the number of new daily confirmed cases nearly doubled each day.

As of the 26th, the average daily new confirmed cases over the past week was 1,333, which is four times the 420 cases recorded a week earlier on the 19th.

South Africa's population is approximately 60 million, similar to that of Korea.