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First confirmation of a mutant virus from the UK with strong transmission power

(Photo = Reporter Park Jong-min/material photo)-It has been confirmed for the first time that the corona 19 mutant virus, which is prevalent in the UK, has also been introduced into Korea.

The Central Defense Response Headquarters announced on the 28th that “a mutant virus was confirmed in the samples obtained from three people arriving from the UK.”

They are a family living in London, England, and they entered Korea on the 22nd.

Separately, four other family members who entered the country from the UK on the 8th and 13th were also diagnosed with Corona 19, and an investigation into whether they were infected with the mutant virus is ongoing.

Among them, one male in their 80s was confirmed post-mortem at the Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital on the 26th, and three more family members were tested positive afterwards, and the full-length genome analysis of these specimens is currently in progress.

(Photo = Yonhap News)-The mutant virus, first discovered in the UK, is known to be 70% stronger than the existing virus.

In order to prevent the virus from entering Korea, the government has suspended flights departing from London Heathrow Airport and arriving at Incheon International Airport on the 23rd, and has mandated diagnostic tests before quarantine for all inbound travelers from the UK.

Along with this, as mutant viruses were found in South Africa, it was decided to strengthen fever checks at the time of entry and carry out additional tests before quarantine.

In particular, for confirmed patients from South Africa, it was decided to perform genetic analysis to determine whether they were infected with the mutant virus.

Daebon Bang said, “We are strengthening quarantine against the influx of COVID-19 mutant virus from the UK and South Africa,” he said. “Details will be explained through a briefing at 2 pm this afternoon.”

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