Omicron Cases Rise to 178... Expected to Become Dominant Strain Within a Month

Major Countries on Alert for Omicron Due to Lockdowns

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The number of people infected with the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is steadily increasing. Experts predict that Omicron will soon become the dominant strain in the COVID-19 situation.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of midnight on the 19th, 12 new cases of Omicron variant infections were confirmed. By country of entry, the United States and the United Kingdom recorded 6 and 4 cases respectively, while one case each was confirmed from arrivals from Ghana and Tanzania.

As a result, the total number of Omicron infections in the country has risen to 178. Of these, 54 are imported cases and 124 are domestic infections. Community transmission of Omicron continues, with a cluster outbreak related to a church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, estimated to have infected at least 74 people, starting from two arrivals from Nigeria, including family members, acquaintances, and church-related individuals.

Regarding the case linked to an arrival from Iran and Jeonbuk, the infection spread from one person arriving from Iran to five family members, and then to 27 children at a daycare center in Jeonbuk. Subsequently, it spread to 13 people at a family gathering in Seoul and 16 children at a daycare center in Jeonnam. Additionally, on the 3rd of this month, a patient in the Gyeongnam region who tested positive for Omicron after arriving from overseas infected one family member.

Experts expect Omicron to soon become the dominant strain. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "Omicron could become the dominant strain within a month."

Overseas, vigilance against Omicron remains high. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a White House COVID-19 response team meeting on the 17th (local time), "While the Delta variant is still widespread, the Omicron variant is rapidly increasing," adding, "As in other countries, it is expected to become the dominant strain in the U.S. within a few weeks."

Major countries have also taken measures against Omicron through lockdown orders. London declared a 'major incident' and entered an emergency state on the 18th after the UK was hit hard by Omicron. Germany added the UK to its list of high-risk COVID-19 countries and strengthened quarantine measures by requiring travelers from the UK to quarantine for two weeks starting from the 20th to prevent the influx of the Omicron variant.

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