First Suspected Omicron Case in Korea... Couple in Their 40s Returning from Nigeria (Comprehensive Report 2)

Returned on the 24th... 1 acquaintance and 1 child also confirmed positive
Variant PCR results show common positive regions with existing variants and Omicron

Omicron infection case confirmed entering Nigeria from Canada
"Whole genome analysis results to be announced late afternoon on the 1st"

On the 30th, amid ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 Omicron variant, overseas arrivals are waiting at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy reporters Seo So-jeong and Lee Chun-hee] The government announced on the 30th that a couple who returned from a visit to Nigeria is suspected of being infected with the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, and that whole genome sequencing is being conducted to confirm the variant.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) held an emergency meeting regarding the Omicron variant on the same day to review the current status and response measures. Starting with this meeting, a pan-government task force (TF) was formed to proactively discuss measures to block the domestic inflow of the Omicron variant and to continuously monitor the related situation.

According to the KDCA, a couple in their 40s residing in Incheon, who visited Nigeria from the 14th to the 23rd and were confirmed positive for COVID-19, are suspected of being infected with the Omicron variant.

The couple completed their Moderna vaccination on the 28th of last month before visiting Nigeria. They returned on the 24th at 3:30 p.m. via Incheon Airport, transiting through Ethiopia, and were diagnosed with COVID-19 the following day. Contact tracing revealed that their son (a teenager) and one acquaintance (a man in his 40s) who assisted with transportation from the airport to their home were additionally confirmed positive on the 30th.

The government reported that out of 81 passengers on the return flight carrying the couple, a total of 45 have entered the country, and these individuals are also being monitored through contact tracing.

This infection case was classified as a suspected Omicron variant case after a variant PCR test on the additional confirmed acquaintance yielded a positive result that morning. The diagnostic test showed positivity in regions common to the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omicron variants, leading to its classification as a suspected Omicron case.

Earlier, on the 28th, the government designated eight countries?South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi?as countries requiring strengthened quarantine measures, high-risk countries, and countries excluded from quarantine exemptions due to concerns over the Omicron variant. All domestic arrivals from these countries, even vaccinated nationals, are required to quarantine in temporary living facilities for 10 days.

However, Nigeria was not included among the eight countries excluded from quarantine exemptions, so the couple returned home after entry. On the 28th (local time), two individuals entering Canada from Nigeria were confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant.

The government is currently securing specimens from the index patient and the couple to conduct whole genome sequencing to confirm Omicron variant infection. The results are expected to be confirmed late in the afternoon on the 1st of next month. Specimens from the confirmed child will also be collected later for genomic testing.