The quarantine authorities announced today (27th) that they are responding to the current situation of the spread of the new mutant virus of Corona 19 in New York, USA.
Joon-wook Kwon, head of the 2nd Division of Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters (Bang Dae-bon), spoke at a regular briefing this afternoon to a query regarding the mutant virus response situation and said, "The situation has strengthened monitoring of mutant strains that can come from overseas.
Earlier, US media such as CNN cited a paper from Columbia University Medical Center research team on the 24th (local time), and a new mutant virus (B.1.526) was discovered in a corona19 sample collected in New York last November, and from the end of December of the same year. It is reported that the detection rate of the mutant virus has steadily increased between the middle of this month.
New York's new mutant virus, which was discovered this time, is known to have characteristics similar to the South African mutant virus, which has increased resistance to vaccines.
According to Bang Dae-bon, the number of mutant viruses confirmed in Korea is cumulative 142 people as of 25 days.
Deputy General Manager Kwon explained that there are no additional mutant virus infections identified so far.
However, with the COVID-19 vaccination just begun in Korea, there are steadily raising concerns that the spread of the mutant virus and the emergence of a new virus abroad may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccination.
In consideration of this situation, the authorities are also strengthening and implementing countermeasures against mutant viruses.
Vice-manager Kwon explained that the number of mutant virus analysis institutions, which had previously been two, has been expanded to eight, and the ratio of mutant virus analysis, which was an average of 3.5% of all cases, is increasing to 5%.
(Photo = Yonhap News)