A new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) variant originating from the UK has been found in North America, the Middle East, and Japan across Europe, and is spreading all over the world. It is known that the contagious power is up to 70% stronger than the existing Corona 19 virus, and countries around the world are in emergency response, such as blocking their borders. In the midst of this, a red light was also lit up for the management of overseas immigrants in Korea. It is pointed out that the government has stepped up measures, such as suspending flight operations with the United Kingdom, but excluding those entering other countries that have passed through the United Kingdom.
Japan “New entry is not permitted from all countries”
Korea only blocks direct ports from UK
Government maintains step 2.5 without strengthening quarantine
Investigation of deaths and strains in the 80s from England
After the death of the 80s from England
My wife, daughter, and son-in-law were also tested positive
Strengthening quarantine at fast food restaurants from tomorrow
When ordering only drinks and desserts, only packaging and delivery
The government also decided to extend social distancing measures in the 2.5th stage of the metropolitan area and the 2nd stage of the non-metropolitan area for 6 more days until January 3, next year, despite the spreading trend of repeated fluctuations in the 1,000 new confirmed cases of Corona 19 in Korea for the last week. .
Countries with confirmed coronavirus variants. Graphic = Younghee Kim [email protected]
As the fear of the corona 19 variant virus spreads, Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Control Headquarters, said on the 23rd, “We will temporarily suspend flights from the UK until the 31st.” Those arriving from the UK were quarantined for 14 days and additionally subjected to a gene amplification (PCR) test when quarantined.
However, there are still holes in the quarantine management policy. First of all, this measure applies only to direct flights departing from Heathrow Airport in London and arriving at Incheon International Airport. Departing from the UK, you can enter Korea via other countries.
In particular, it is difficult to grasp the list of transit passengers departing from the UK when entering the country from the UK via another country or when moving to a neighboring country after a short stay in the UK. This means that after self-isolation, you may fall out of the subject that needs PCR testing. An official from the quarantine authorities said, “It is true that there is no way to check in this case,” but explained that “there is little possibility of entering through other countries as countries around the UK are already strictly blocking access.”
The UK is also not a country for strengthening quarantine, which is obligated to submit a’pre-PCR negative confirmation’ before entering Korea. The quarantine authorities explained to this point that “there is no big problem because all foreigners do PCR tests as soon as they enter Korea.”
Some point out that it is compared to Japan, the Middle East, and Europe, which preemptively implemented strong quarantine measures. Japan walked back to the door after confirmed cases of strain infection (7 as of the 26th) over the weekend. The Japanese government urgently announced on the night of the 26th a policy that in principle, people from all countries will not enter the country from the 28th to the end of January next year. In order to prevent the influx of varieties, the ban on entry to the United Kingdom and South Africa was expanded to the world. Only’business traffic’ targeting 11 countries and regions including Korea is recognized. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait closed their borders for a week. The Philippines has restricted entry not only to flights departing from the UK, but also passengers who visited (via) the UK within 14 days of arrival.
Expert “People who have passed by the UK should also conduct a full-scale investigation of passport tracking”
Jeong Ki-seok (former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), a professor of respiratory internal medicine at Hallym University, pointed out that “People who entered the UK should also trace their passports and conduct a thorough investigation during immigration.” Eun-mi Chun, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “A variant virus may have already entered Korea. Even if you can’t do it like Japan, you should stop planes coming through the UK.”
In Korea, four family members who entered the country from the UK were confirmed on the 26th to 27th, and the quarantine authorities are investigating whether they have infected the virus. According to authorities, a man in his 80s residing in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, who entered the country on the 13th, was confirmed after he died of heart arrest on the 26th. On the 27th, his wife, daughter (both entered the country on the 13th) and son-in-law were positive. The son-in-law, who first entered the country on the 8th of last month, has an external movement after self-isolation, and the health authorities are under an epidemiological investigation.
The quarantine authorities said, “We will begin analysis as soon as we obtain samples of confirmed patients after entering the UK on the 27th, and results will come out as early as this week.” “Family confirmed patients are also planning to perform full-length genome analysis (WGS) quickly.” Whole-genome sequencing is an analysis that checks for mutations by analyzing the entire nucleotide sequence.
Countries around the world are strengthening the analysis and disclosure of the virus battlefield genome (genome) to confirm the spread of the COVID-19 variant. However, it is being pointed out that the Korean government neglects this.
According to a recent paper by the Institute of Advanced Life Sciences and Medical Sciences at Kyoto University, Japan, Korea ranked 33rd (200) out of 49 countries (a total of 93,917) that analyzed more than 100 virus genomes as of September. . Experts pointed out that “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also needs to disclose the results of the genome analysis of the corona 19 virus in Korea, and actively monitor the variant virus in Korea and neighboring countries.”
Meanwhile, Kwon Deok-cheol (Minister of Health and Welfare), 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (the main script), at a regular briefing on the 27th, said, “The current distance system will be extended for 6 days until January 3, which is the year-end and New Year special quarantine countermeasures.” Revealed. As a result, the 2.5 steps of distance between the metropolitan area, which started on the 8th and started for 3 weeks until the 28th, have been extended by 6 days. Whether or not to raise the third stage will be discussed again on January 3, next year.
The government decided to supplement some of the quarantine regulations. 1st Deputy General Manager Kwon said, “From 0 o’clock on the 29th, fast food restaurants will only allow packaging and delivery when ordering coffee, beverages, and desserts, as is the case with bakery cafes and brunch cafes, and unmanned cafes plan to ban seating in stores. .
Reporters Woorim Lee, Minjung Baek, Moran Choi, Kyungmin Seok
Tokyo = Correspondent Lee Young-hee [email protected]