BA.5 Domestic Detection Rate 47.2%, Approaching Dominance... Including Overseas Inflow 52% (Update)

BA.5 427 Cases and 551 Additional Domestic Confirmed Cases of Omicron Sublineages

On the 19th, when 73,582 new COVID-19 cases were reported, marking the highest number in 83 days, officials at the Disaster and Safety Situation Room of Songpa District Office in Seoul reviewed the current status of COVID-19 cases. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As the BA.5 variant, known for its rapid transmission speed and immune evasion capability, has been additionally introduced into South Korea, the domestic detection rate is approaching 50%.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 19th, during the week of the 10th to the 16th of this month, the BA.5 detection rate among domestic confirmed cases was 47.2%, and the detection rate among imported cases was 62.9%. Compared to the previous week, the detection rate among imported cases decreased by 7.1 percentage points from 70%, but the domestic detection rate nearly doubled from 23.7%.

When the detection rate exceeds 50%, it is considered the dominant strain. Although the domestic detection rate is slightly below 50%, the combined detection rate of BA.5 including imported cases has already surpassed the threshold at 52.0%.

Im Suk-young, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters’ Situation Management Division, stated, "The domestic detection rate of BA.5 is close to 50%. The imported cases have already exceeded 50%, and since continuous importation from abroad is expected, the number of confirmed cases is anticipated to keep increasing."

BA.5 is a sublineage of Omicron, known to have stronger transmission speed and immune evasion than BA.1 and BA.2. Since the first infection case was confirmed domestically in May, its share exceeded 10% by the end of last month, spreading further.

Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "Due to new variants such as BA.5, a resurgence has occurred faster than initially expected. To prevent hospitalizations and deaths caused by infections and to protect health and life, it is necessary for the recommended population to actively participate in vaccination."

During the same period, 551 cases of Omicron sublineages, including 427 cases of BA.5, were additionally detected domestically. Among the additional BA.5 cases, 274 were domestic infections and 153 were imported.

For BA.2.12.1, 59 domestic and 18 imported cases were confirmed. BA.4 had a total of 46 additional cases detected, with 17 domestic and 29 imported.

Regarding the BA.2.75 case first confirmed domestically on the 14th, no presumed prior infections have been identified so far. Park Young-jun, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, explained, "Four close contacts were identified: one cohabitant and three community contacts. No additional confirmed cases have been found among them to date. Since asymptomatic transmission is possible, further cases may occur."

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