Global COVID-19 Cases Increase by 10 Million in One Week...New Variant Emerges in France (Summary)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunwoo Lee and Hyunui Cho] As the Omicron variant, which has become the dominant strain worldwide, continues to rage, the number of new COVID-19 cases globally has increased by 10 million in just one week. Following the Omicron variant, a new variant virus has been discovered in France.

On the 3rd (local time), according to foreign media including the UK Daily Mail, the IHU Mediterranean Infection Research Center in Marseille, France, reported through a paper that a new mutation was discovered in the southern region of France. The research team named this variant ‘B.1.640.2’. The paper is known to have not yet undergone peer review.

According to the research team, this variant is believed to have been spread by a traveler from Cameroon, Africa, and so far has been transmitted to 12 people only in the Marseille area of southern France. The variant is identified to have 46 mutations and 37 gene deletions. It possesses as many mutations as the Omicron variant, which has over 50 mutations, raising concerns about further spread.

Bloomberg News reported that due to the spread of the Omicron variant, 10 million people worldwide were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past week. This is nearly double the previous highest record of 5.7 million set in late April last year. Especially in the United States and Europe, where the Omicron variant has become dominant, the number of infections is rising sharply in a vertical trend.

Fortunately, the number of deaths continued to decline, totaling about 42,480. Bloomberg News reported that this is the lowest level recorded since late October 2020.

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