Three Additional Cases of UK-Origin Variant Virus Confirmed...Family Members of Existing Patients (Comprehensive)

One More Family Member Confirmed Positive... Infection Status Being Verified Through Specimen Testing
Domestic Total of Variant Infections Rises to 15... 14 from UK Variant, 1 from South Africa Variant

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Three additional confirmed COVID-19 patients infected with the variant virus originating from the UK have been identified in South Korea. Previously, the health authorities explained that the family of a variant virus-infected person who arrived from the UK last month represents "the first domestic case transmitted from an existing infected person without overseas entry," adding that "no community contact has been confirmed yet."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 7th, the variant virus originating from the UK was detected in the specimens of three family members of a confirmed COVID-19 patient who arrived from the UK on the 19th of last month and was confirmed to be infected with the variant virus. The initial confirmed patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 20th of last month, and through whole genome sequencing (NGS·Next Generation Sequencing), the infection with the UK variant virus was confirmed on the 2nd of this month.

The health authorities estimate that the three additional infected family members were infected during their self-quarantine period. These three individuals were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 26th, 29th, and 30th of last month, respectively. Subsequently, whole genome sequencing confirmed the variant virus infection on the same day. Additionally, one more contact (family member) was confirmed positive, and this family is also undergoing whole genome sequencing to verify variant virus infection.

According to the CDCH, the four family members of the initial confirmed patient include the parents and the sibling couple. Kwon Jun-wook, the second deputy director of the CDCH, explained, "Looking at the family relationships, they are not all cohabiting family members; rather, two separate family units are formed among them," adding, "Although not yet finalized, we are investigating the possibility that transmission occurred while the family members traveled together in the same vehicle after arrival." Gwak Jin, head of the patient management team at the CDCH, stated, "This family of three is the first case of variant virus infection in individuals who had no overseas travel history and stayed only within the country," and added, "According to the epidemiological investigation so far, no additional community contacts beyond the family have been identified."

The CDCH further explained in a subsequent response, "It was found that all four family members went to the airport to pick up the arriving individual and traveled together to their home in Gyeonggi Province. They all entered self-quarantine starting from the 20th of last month, when the UK entrant was confirmed positive," adding, "Among the four, two showed symptoms first, got tested, and were confirmed positive, followed by the spouses of these two who were asymptomatic but tested positive through additional testing."

As a result, the total number of cases infected with variant viruses circulating in the UK and the Republic of South Africa (RSA) in South Korea has increased to 15. There are 14 cases infected with the UK variant and 1 case infected with the RSA variant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.