Suspected Omicron Infection in Incheon Couple Returning from Nigeria... Results Expected Tomorrow Afternoon (Comprehensive)

On the 30th, amid ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 Omicron variant, overseas arrivals are waiting at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government announced on the 30th that a couple residing in Incheon who visited Nigeria is suspected of being infected with the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, and a whole genome sequencing test is being conducted to confirm the variant.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) held an emergency meeting regarding the Omicron variant on the same day to review the current status and response measures. Starting with this meeting, a pan-government task force (TF) was formed to proactively discuss measures to block the domestic inflow of the Omicron variant and to continuously monitor the related situation.

According to the KDCA, the Incheon couple who tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting Nigeria from the 14th to the 23rd is suspected of being infected with the Omicron variant.

The couple completed their Moderna vaccination on the 28th of last month before visiting Nigeria, and upon returning, tested positive for COVID-19 on the 25th.

Following the confirmation, contact tracing revealed that one acquaintance (a man in his 40s) who assisted with transportation from the airport to their home and one cohabiting family member (a teenager) also tested positive, and tracing is ongoing for other passengers on the same flight.

On the morning of the same day, a PCR test for the variant on the additional confirmed acquaintance suspected the Omicron variant, and the government is conducting whole genome sequencing tests on them including the index patient. The results are expected to be confirmed late afternoon on the 1st of next month.

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