"New COVID-19 Wave"... Resurgence in Dandong, China, Suspected of New Variant Influx from North Korea?

Dandong, the Largest Trade Hub Between North Korea and China
"Resurgent Virus is BA2.3... New Variant"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] It has been confirmed that the COVID-19 virus re-spreading in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, is a new variant different from the previous ones.

On the 27th, the Dandong Municipal Health Commission stated in a quarantine briefing, "The recently re-spreading COVID-19 virus is the Omicron BA2.3 variant, which is different from the virus that spread at the end of last month."

They added, "The source of infection for the recent COVID-19 cases is also different from those infected last month," explaining, "This is a new wave of COVID-19."

However, they did not mention specific sources of infection.

The Health Commission said, "The COVID-19 situation in the border areas of Dandong, which are adjacent to rivers and seas, is severe, making it difficult to block external inflows," adding, "Quarantine work is complex and difficult. It also has a long-term nature."

Some have suggested, based on the announcement, that the new variant virus may have been introduced from North Korea.

Since early this month, COVID-19 has been spreading in the North Korean border areas within Jilin Province's inland regions, such as Changbai County in Baishan City, Tumen, and Jian, which had previously been unaffected by COVID-19, raising suspicions of a connection with North Korea.

In fact, the Dandong area is the largest trade hub between North Korea and China.

Dandong City reported its first infected person on the 24th of last month and locked down the entire city the following day, on the 25th. Subsequently, on the 29th, the operation of North Korea-China freight trains was also suspended.

After no new confirmed cases for eight consecutive days since the 16th, plans were made to lift the lockdown, but from the 24th, new infection cases were confirmed again. Starting with 11 people, the cumulative number of infections reached 37 over four consecutive days.

Local governments are on alert at the border and are strengthening quarantine controls.