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number of new COVID-19 cases continued to rise above 70,000 for three days in a row.

The BA.2.75 mutation, which has the highest radio wave power, was also confirmed for the second time in Korea.



Correspondent Ho-Won Choi.



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Yesterday (20th), there were 71,170 new confirmed cases of Corona 19.



It was 70,000 for three days in a row, 1.8 times the same day of the week last week and 3.8 times compared to two weeks ago.



The number of imported patients from overseas, which had increased to 429 the day before, decreased slightly to 320, but still maintained more than 300 for the fifth day.



The BA.2.75 mutation was detected in one infected person who arrived from India on the 5th.



This is the second time after an Incheon patient who had no overseas travel history on the 14th.



BA.2.75, also known as 'Centaur', is currently considered the most powerful mutation.



In India, where it was first discovered, it spread to 10 states within two weeks, and it was confirmed in 14 other countries, including Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.



[Dewardros Adhanom Ghebreyesus/World Health Organization Director-General: New mutations are more contagious.

However, we do not yet know how much more lethal it will be.

All countries must prepare countermeasures.]



If the two mutations spread from BA.5 to BA.2.75 in Korea at the same time, the scale of the corona resurgence may become larger.



The number of patients with severe gastritis increased for the sixth consecutive day to 107.



It is the first time in 40 days since the 11th of last month that the number exceeded 100.



The death toll was 17.



Meanwhile, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced that all three COVID-19 treatments, including Paxrovid, LaGebrio, and the injectable Vecluriju, have confirmed that they have maintained their antiviral efficacy against four sub-mutations of Omicron, including BA.5.



The government is also planning to launch an antibody-positive rate survey of 10,000 people nationwide this month and announce the results in early September.



Research on the aftereffects of COVID-19 will also start at the end of next month.