<Anchor> On
December 2, Nightline begins with the news that 5 cases of infection with Omicron, a new mutant virus, were first confirmed in Korea. Along with the confirmed case related to a couple in their 40s who arrived from Nigeria last month, two women in their 50s from Nigeria were also infected with the Omicron mutation. The government has expanded the countries with entry restrictions, and has decided to quarantine all inbound and outbound travelers for 10 days regardless of vaccinations for two weeks.
Correspondent Jang Se-man.
<Reporter> The
first patients classified by the quarantine authorities as suspected cases of omicron mutation are four related to a couple in their 40s who arrived from Nigeria on the 24th of last month.
This is a teenage son living with a couple in their 40s, and Mr. A, an acquaintance who drove the couple from the airport to their house.
As a result of whole-genome testing of them, it was first confirmed that three people except for the teenage son were infected with the omicron mutation.
Among these three, a couple in their 40s completed basic vaccinations against Moderna at the end of October, but acquaintance A was confirmed as not vaccinated.
Four people, including a teenage son and Mr. A's family and acquaintances, are currently being tested for omicron mutations.
It was also confirmed that two women in their 50s who visited Nigeria were infected with the omicron mutation.
They entered Korea on the 23rd of last month, one day ahead of couples in their 40s.
The quarantine authorities organized a pan-ministerial task force to prevent the spread of Omicron in Korea and held the first meeting yesterday and came up with measures to strengthen quarantine measures.
First of all, in addition to the eight African countries that had previously restricted entry, it was announced that Nigeria, where Korea's first omicron mutation was introduced, will be included in the entry restrictions.
The authorities also decided to test for mutations in Omicron for all overseas arrivals in the future to monitor the inflow of Omicron.
At the same time, until the 16th, for the next two weeks, foreigners entering from all countries must be quarantined for 10 days regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.
Koreans and long-term foreigners are quarantined at home, and short-term foreigners are quarantined at temporary living facilities.
Authorities said that if confirmed as an Omicron mutation, inpatient treatment at a hospital or community treatment center instead of at-home treatment.