"UK-Origin Variant Coronavirus to Sweep Across the Globe"

As concerns grow over the fourth wave of COVID-19 variants originating from the UK, overseas arrivals wearing protective suits are heading to temporary quarantine facilities at Incheon International Airport on Yeongjongdo Island on the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Experts have expressed concerns that the COVID-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom could spread worldwide.

Sharon Peacock, director of the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) and professor at the University of Cambridge, stated this during an appearance on BBC on the 11th (local time). COG-UK is a collaboration of UK public health agencies and research institutes responsible for analyzing the viral genome sequences. Currently, it analyzes 30,000 positive COVID-19 test results daily.

Professor Peacock said, "What currently has a significant impact on us is the transmissibility of the variant virus," expressing concern that "the variant virus has already swept through the UK and will spread globally." She and her research team expect to analyze the genome sequences of the COVID-19 virus for the next ten years.

Meanwhile, the variant virus first discovered in September last year in the Kent region of southeastern England is rapidly spreading, starting from the UK. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this variant virus has now been detected in 86 countries worldwide.

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