The 4th confirmed case of 'Kentauros' is a 'local infection'... acquaintance of the 2nd confirmed case

On the 24th, when 65,433 new COVID-19 cases were reported, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] One more confirmed case of the COVID-19 BA.2.75 variant (also known as 'Centaurus') has been identified in South Korea, bringing the total to four.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 25th, "One additional patient infected with the BA.2.75 variant has been confirmed domestically," adding, "An epidemiological investigation is currently underway."

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the newly confirmed patient is in their 20s and resides in Chungbuk Province. It has been confirmed that they completed the third dose of vaccination. Both the onset of symptoms and the confirmation date were on the 13th, and after home treatment, the isolation was lifted on the 20th.

This patient is an acquaintance of the second confirmed BA.2.75 case in South Korea, and the Disease Control Headquarters estimates that the infection occurred after contact at the airport. The second confirmed case was a foreigner living in Cheongju, Chungbuk, who entered the country from India on the 5th, tested positive for COVID-19 two days later, and was classified as infected with BA.2.75 two weeks afterward. Accordingly, this fourth confirmed case is expected to be the first instance of local transmission within the region.

BA.2.75 is known to have eight more spike gene mutations than BA.2, which was called stealth Omicron, making it more transmissible and better at evading immunity.