Omicron New Variant 'XL', Could It Affect Daily Recovery?…Health Authorities Say "Impact Likely Not Significant"

A notice about the self-test kit being out of stock is posted at a pharmacy in downtown Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the number of new COVID-19 cases has recently decreased, discussions on returning to normal life are becoming active. Amid this, the Omicron recombinant variant 'XL' was detected in domestic cases, prompting health authorities to launch an investigation. The XL variant, like the previously known 'XE' variant, is a combination of Omicron and stealth Omicron and was first identified in the UK last February.

Some raise concerns that the new COVID-19 variant might act as a variable affecting the downward trend in the scale of the outbreak. However, health authorities expect that the emergence of the XL variant will not influence the government's policy of easing social distancing measures.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 12th that the Omicron recombinant variant XL was confirmed for the first time in a domestic case and that an epidemiological investigation is underway.

The XL recombinant variant infection was confirmed in a man in his 40s from Jeonnam who tested positive on the 23rd of last month. This individual had completed the third vaccination dose and was reported to have no particular symptoms. This was his first COVID-19 infection.

Lee Sangwon, head of the CDCH Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team, explained during a briefing that the infected person "had completed vaccination and is currently released from isolation," adding, "There were no special abnormal situations during isolation treatment, and it is judged that he has recovered well."

Since the XL variant was first discovered in the UK last February, 66 cases have been confirmed there as of the 11th. The UK Health Security Agency stated on the 25th of last month that most recombinant variants have been reported to disappear without significant spread.

Some express concerns that the XL variant might become a variable affecting the easing of social distancing. One netizen said, "The number of confirmed cases has finally started to decrease, but new variants keep emerging. COVID-19 is really persistent," adding, "It seems variants will continue to appear, so I hope individuals take care of their health and that social distancing measures are eased."

Meanwhile, health authorities analyzed that the impact of the recombinant variant occurrence is unlikely to be significant. Lee explained about the recombinant variant, "Its transmissibility has slightly increased compared to BA.2 (stealth Omicron), but it does not show a tendency to significantly increase severity, so there is no global forecast that it will become dominant."

He continued, "The newly discovered variant (XL variant) is not classified as a significant variant, and it is judged that it will not affect the current downward trend of the outbreak," adding, "It is also expected to have limited impact on the ongoing quarantine system or social distancing measures."

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