Domestic COVID-19 'Four Major Variants' Infections Surpass 4,000 Cases

Last month, elderly individuals who completed their COVID-19 vaccination at the vaccination center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, are waiting in the observation area. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of infections with the four major COVID-19 variants that have entered South Korea has effectively surpassed 4,000.

On the 8th, Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "175 variant virus cases were confirmed in the past week," adding, "Since October last year, a total of 1,738 variant virus cases have been identified."

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies four COVID-19 variant viruses as 'major (variants of concern)': ▲α variant (UK variant), ▲β variant (South Africa variant), ▲γ variant (Brazil variant), and ▲δ variant (India variant).

These variant viruses have traditionally been named after their major regions of occurrence, such as the UK variant and South Africa variant. However, recently, WHO announced new names using the Greek alphabet instead of country or regional names to avoid regional discrimination. Our health authorities have accepted this and will use both the existing names and the Greek alphabet names for the time being, with plans to unify under the Greek alphabet names later.

In the past week, out of 583 cases analyzed genetically to confirm variants, 175 cases were detected with variant viruses, resulting in a variant rate of 30%. This is about twice the 16.5% (1,738 out of 10,535 cases) variant detection rate since genetic analysis began in October last year. However, it is slightly lower than the 33.1% recorded the previous week. Lee explained, "This figure has not increased significantly compared to last week or earlier periods."

So far, the number of cluster infection cases confirmed with variant viruses in South Korea has increased by 14 from the previous week, totaling 134 cases. Among the 14 new cases, 24 variant-confirmed patients were identified, and the epidemiologically related cases reached 162. Currently, due to limitations in genetic testing capacity, when some individuals in a cluster infection case are confirmed as variant-infected, the entire cluster is effectively classified as 'epidemiologically related cases' of variant infection.

Considering this, the total number of infections with the four major variants confirmed in South Korea, including 1,738 confirmed variant cases plus 2,458 cumulative epidemiologically related cases, amounts to 4,196.

On the morning of the 3rd, medical staff are administering vaccines at the vaccination center set up at Jungnang Cultural and Sports Center in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, health authorities assessed that the spread of variants in South Korea is not at a level of serious concern compared to other countries and is unlikely to significantly affect the achievement of herd immunity through vaccination.

Lee stated regarding the three vaccines currently administered or planned for administration in South Korea?AstraZeneca (AZ), Pfizer, and Janssen?that "although variants are emerging, there is currently no concern that the vaccine's effectiveness is significantly offset."

He clarified, "This is not to rank the vaccines or differentiate their effectiveness," and explained the efficacy of each vaccine against variant viruses.

According to this, the Pfizer vaccine generally shows high effectiveness against variant viruses. However, sufficient evaluation has not yet been conducted for the β variant (South Africa variant) and γ variant (Brazil variant).

The AZ vaccine also demonstrates reasonable efficacy against variants. It shows over 60% effectiveness against the α variant (UK variant) and over 60% effectiveness upon completion of vaccination against the δ variant (India variant). However, its effectiveness against the β and γ variants is considered weaker.

Lee explained that the Janssen vaccine is also generally considered effective.

Lee evaluated that "the variant rate of the virus in South Korea is not particularly high compared to other countries," describing the situation as stable compared to Europe, where variant viruses dominate over 80%. He added, "It is considered a controllable aspect through vaccination," and said, "So far, while it may affect the schedule for herd immunity, it is not at a level that requires different management."

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