87% of Last Week's Cases Are 'Major Variants'... Delta Plus Increases by 1, Lambda Variant Also a Concern (Update)

Last Week's Major Variant Detection Rate 86.9%... Delta at 85.3%
Additional 3,014 Cases Confirmed for 4 Major Variants

On the 12th, as 1,987 new COVID-19 cases were reported and the nationwide spread continued, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at the Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The spread of the India-originated 'Delta variant,' which has a higher transmissibility than the original COVID-19 virus, is intensifying. Last week, over 80% of domestic confirmed cases were identified as infections with the Delta variant, and one additional case of the Delta Plus variant was reported. Furthermore, the possibility of the Lambda variant entering the country cannot be ruled out, prompting health authorities to remain vigilant.

On the 17th, Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "The detection rate of major variants in domestic COVID-19 cases over the past week (August 8?14) was 86.9%, an increase of 11.3% compared to the previous week," adding, "The detection rate of the Delta variant was recorded at 85.3%."

Last week, 3,014 additional cases of infection with the four major variants were confirmed. Among these, 2,812 were domestic infections, and 202 were imported cases. Accordingly, the total cumulative number of variant infections confirmed since December last year has reached 13,780.

Among these, the Delta variant accounts for 2,954 cases, representing 98% of all variant infections. The UK-originated 'Alpha' variant added 59 cases, and the South Africa-originated 'Beta' variant added one case.

Looking only at domestic infection cases, the Delta variant accounted for 2,759 cases, which is over 98% of the total (2,812). The detection rate of variant viruses among domestic infections over the past week was 86.9% (2,812 cases). This marks a sharp increase of 11.3 percentage points compared to the previous week's detection rate of 75.6%.

In particular, one additional case of infection with the Delta Plus variant, derived from the Delta variant, was confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to three. Although there is no precise research yet on the risk and transmissibility of Delta Plus, it is estimated to have higher transmissibility than the existing Delta variant and reduced vaccine effectiveness. Park Young-jun, head of the Epidemiological Investigation Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said regarding the Delta Plus infection case, "She is a woman in her 30s, a Korean national, and it is currently presumed that the infection occurred overseas," adding, "She was confirmed positive through a test conducted before release from quarantine while isolated in a quarantine facility after entry, and no additional confirmed cases among contacts have been identified so far."

Additionally, health authorities are closely monitoring the Lambda variant, which has recently emerged mainly in South American countries. Lee said, "Currently, countries where the Lambda variant has occurred are mainly South American countries, and it is not considered to be spreading widely worldwide," adding, "However, since the Lambda variant may exhibit vaccine evasion and severity similar to the Delta variant, it is an issue that requires the same level of caution."

He continued, "The possibility of the Lambda variant entering the country cannot be denied," adding, "So far, it has not spread globally and remains confined to specific populations, so the speed and timing cannot be predicted."

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