Health Authorities: "Domestic COVID-19 Spread Led by 'Delta Variant'... Becoming the Dominant Variant" (Update)

"The biggest characteristic of the variant is vaccine evasion... Not to the extent of losing effectiveness"

On the 26th, when a 'heatwave advisory' was issued in most regions nationwide, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Gwanak-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting to get tested for COVID-19. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The quarantine authorities recently stated that the domestic COVID-19 outbreak is already being driven by the Delta variant. They explained that the spread of the Delta variant is so intense that it can soon be considered the dominant strain in the overall outbreak.

On the 26th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "It is already judged that the Delta variant is leading at least the majority of the domestic COVID-19 outbreak," adding, "It seems to be a situation where the entire outbreak can soon be regarded as the Delta variant."

In the past week (from the 14th to the 25th), the detection rate of the Delta variant in Korea exceeded 48%. This is 15 times higher than the 3.3% detection rate in the fourth week of June. If the current trend continues, the proportion of the Delta variant is expected to exceed the majority this week.

Deputy Head Kwon said, "This means that patients had already occurred in the community before July 14th to 25th," and added, "There is some delay in analyzing the samples, so the 48% figure reflects the community situation before last week."

He also emphasized, "At present, the Delta variant is already considered the dominant variant," and stated, "Whether it is the Delta variant or another variant, the response measures such as social distancing and expanding vaccination are essentially the same, so we will continue to thoroughly monitor and respond."

Concerns are also rising that the spread of COVID-19 variants may reduce the preventive effectiveness of vaccines. Regarding this, Deputy Head Kwon explained, "Of course, the characteristic of variants is their ability to evade vaccines or treatments," and added, "According to the WHO's recent review and analysis of several papers, the Janssen vaccine shows almost no reduction in efficacy against the Delta variant, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines show a decrease within 10%, and Pfizer shows a decrease up to 20% depending on the study."

However, he drew a line by saying, "Vaccines not only reduce efficacy but also significantly decrease hospitalization rates, mortality rates, and transmissibility, and Moderna and Pfizer have shown very high protection," and concluded, "It is not a situation where the vaccine's effectiveness is lost or where there should be doubts about vaccine effectiveness."

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