Omicron Infections Increase by 12 in One Day... Foreign Students at HUFS, Kyung Hee University, and Seoul National University 'First Cases in Seoul'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The number of domestic infections of the Omicron variant, a COVID-19 variant virus, increased by 12 in one day.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 7th, as of midnight, the total number of Omicron variant infections rose by 12 to 36. There were 3 imported cases and 9 local infections added. All 3 imported cases arrived from the Republic of South Africa, and on the previous day, 2 people who entered from South Africa were confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant during quarantine.

Omicron variant cases have also been confirmed in Seoul. According to Seoul City, three foreign students enrolled at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kyung Hee University, and Seoul National University were infected with the Omicron variant. It is known that all of them visited a church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, attended by the pastor couple who were the first confirmed Omicron cases in Korea. After testing positive for COVID-19 on the 3rd, whole genome sequencing confirmed the Omicron variant infection. The universities have started tracing the movements of the confirmed students, but there is a high possibility of additional infections.

Since a teenager in Ansan City was confirmed as an Omicron variant case the previous day, the Omicron variant, which was spreading mainly around Incheon, is now spreading to other regions such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Chungbuk.

Most of the confirmed and suspected Omicron variant cases in Korea until the previous day are related to the church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. A significant number of the infected church members were confirmed to be unvaccinated, raising concerns about a large-scale cluster infection centered around the church.

Meanwhile, the government has designated two additional COVID-19 dedicated hospitals to secure treatment beds for critically ill patients. As a result, the number of dedicated hospitals using all beds for COVID-19 treatment has increased to four. The newly designated COVID-19 dedicated hospitals plan to install about 600 COVID-19 treatment beds, including severe and semi-severe beds.