3 people who returned to S. Korea from U.K. on Dec. 22nd confirmed with new strain of COVID-19
영국발 입국자에서 코로나19 변이 바이러스 확인... 영국에서 귀국한 다른 일가족도 '변이 바이러스' 촉각
We begin with the highly concerning coronavirus development in South Korea.
For the first time in the country, three people who recently returned from the U.K. have been confirmed to have the new variant of COVID-19.
The new strain is much more transmissable than the original,... raising concerns it might already be spreading in South Korea.
Kim Bo-kyoung reports.
It has been confirmed that three people who came into South Korea from the U.K. last week have tested positive for the new strain of COVID-19.
This is the first time for South Korea to confirm cases of the new variant.
Health authorities say the three are family members who flew in from London on December 22nd.
On top of that,... the authorities are closely monitoring a South Korean family.
A man from the family, who was in his 80s, who came back from the U.K. on December 13th posthumously tested positive for COVID-19.
The man, who suffered from cardiovascular disease,... died from cardiac standstill while in 14-day self-quarantine.
Following the confirmation, his three family members also tested positive for COVID-19.
This prompted the South Korean government to look into whether they contracted the new variant that's spreading fast in Britain.
Health authorities said samples have been collected,... adding the final results are expected during the first week of January.
"Analyzing the genetic sequence for the mutation through a PCR test would not take long. Quarantine authorities might even have the results already."
The new variant type, known to be highly transmittable, is spreading across Europe, Canada, Japan and South Africa.
Last week, the South Korean government toughened quarantine measures by suspending all flights from Britain until December 31st.
"People who return from Europe will be tested within three days of entry, and tested again before they are discharged from self-quarantine."
As the new variant is believed to be nearly 70 percent more infectious than any other strain of COVID-19,... local health officials are being extra cautious.
Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
We begin with the highly concerning coronavirus development in South Korea.
For the first time in the country, three people who recently returned from the U.K. have been confirmed to have the new variant of COVID-19.
The new strain is much more transmissable than the original,... raising concerns it might already be spreading in South Korea.
Kim Bo-kyoung reports.
It has been confirmed that three people who came into South Korea from the U.K. last week have tested positive for the new strain of COVID-19.
This is the first time for South Korea to confirm cases of the new variant.
Health authorities say the three are family members who flew in from London on December 22nd.
On top of that,... the authorities are closely monitoring a South Korean family.
A man from the family, who was in his 80s, who came back from the U.K. on December 13th posthumously tested positive for COVID-19.
The man, who suffered from cardiovascular disease,... died from cardiac standstill while in 14-day self-quarantine.
Following the confirmation, his three family members also tested positive for COVID-19.
This prompted the South Korean government to look into whether they contracted the new variant that's spreading fast in Britain.
Health authorities said samples have been collected,... adding the final results are expected during the first week of January.
"Analyzing the genetic sequence for the mutation through a PCR test would not take long. Quarantine authorities might even have the results already."
The new variant type, known to be highly transmittable, is spreading across Europe, Canada, Japan and South Africa.
Last week, the South Korean government toughened quarantine measures by suspending all flights from Britain until December 31st.
"People who return from Europe will be tested within three days of entry, and tested again before they are discharged from self-quarantine."
As the new variant is believed to be nearly 70 percent more infectious than any other strain of COVID-19,... local health officials are being extra cautious.
Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.