226 Additional COVID Variant Cases... "Most Are 'Domestic Infections'" (Update)

The total number of cumulative variant infections in the country is 1,964 people

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The number of infections with variant viruses, known to be more transmissible than the original COVID-19 virus, is steadily increasing in South Korea. Last week (June 6?12), the number of confirmed cases infected with variant viruses increased by more than 200, bringing the total cumulative variant infections to 1,964. In particular, as community transmission rises, concerns among authorities are growing.

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at the COVID-19 regular briefing on the 15th, "Over the past week, a total of 631 genetic analyses were conducted, confirming an additional 226 cases of variant viruses, resulting in a variant detection rate of 35.8%. Among these, 195 cases were domestic infections, with reported regions including Gyeonggi-do with 35 cases, Daegu 24 cases, and Chungbuk 23 cases."

Among the 226 new variant infections, the UK-origin 'Alpha' variant was the most prevalent with 192 cases, followed by the Indian 'Delta' variant with 30 cases, the South African 'Beta' variant with 3 cases, and the Brazilian 'Gamma' variant with 1 case.

Since October last year, 10,604 samples have been analyzed, confirming a total of 1,964 major variant cases to date. By type, there were 1,663 UK variants, 155 Indian variants, 140 South African variants, and 6 Brazilian variants. However, as there are confirmed cases in cluster infections where genomic testing has not yet been conducted, including epidemiologically related cases, the scale of variant infections is expected to increase further.

Additionally, among 3,048 Indian nationals returning to South Korea via 18 irregular flights since May 4, 78 were confirmed positive during entry and quarantine stages. Among them, 19 were infected with variant viruses.

The health authorities also reiterated that vaccination enables effective response to variant viruses. Lee said, "The Delta variant is known to have high transmissibility, but according to analyses from the UK, completing two doses of vaccination provides very high protective effects. The prevention effect after two doses is reported to be between 60% and 88%, and the prevention effect against severe cases such as hospitalization reaches 92% to 96%."

He added, "The best way to respond to variant viruses against which vaccines are effective is not to focus on quarantine but to thoroughly complete the two-dose vaccination schedule as prescribed."

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