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In South Africa, where the new mutation of COVID-19, Omicron, was first announced to the world, the number of infections from Omicron, which has already become the dominant species, is increasing exponentially.
In Europe, where there is frequent travel to and from South Africa, about half of all countries are in the state of being immersed in Omicron, and the United States is also seeing an increasing number of infections.
We will contact the International Department to hear more details. Reporter Kim Hyeong-geun!
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Yes, this is the International Department.
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There was news in South Africa that the omicron mutation had overtaken the existing delta mutation and became the dominant species, but it continues to explode?
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Yes. That’s right.
As of the 3rd local time, there are 16,000 new confirmed cases in South Africa.
Almost quadrupled compared to three days ago.
In South Africa, a fourth outbreak has now begun, and it is estimated that about three-quarters of new cases are omicron infections.
It is characterized by a large number of infections, especially among young people and children.
According to the results of a survey of the Tsuwane area in the metropolitan area, 68% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were in their 40s or younger.
In particular, 11% of hospitalized patients were children under the age of 2 years.
This contrasts with those over 50 who accounted for 66% of all hospitalizations in the early phase of the third wave, driven by the delta mutation.
In addition, while the severity of the third wave reached 66.1% at the beginning of the third wave, the severity rate at the beginning of the fourth wave was relatively low at 32.9%.
Because of this, there are also rumors that Omicron is more powerful than the delta mutation, but is less lethal.
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Even in Europe, where there is frequent travel to and from South Africa, the number of countries with confirmed omicron infection continues to increase?
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Yes. That’s right.
In the EU and 30 countries in the European Economic Area, there are currently 109 cases of omicron mutations in 16 countries.
Including the UK and Switzerland, which do not belong to this category, omicron mutation infections have been confirmed in 18 European countries.
About half of the total is pierced by microns.
Currently, there are cases that are confirming whether Omicron infection is present, so the number is expected to increase.
As there are cases of vaccination among those infected with Omicron mutation, countries are further strengthening border control and quarantine measures amid concerns.
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Omicron infections are also increasing in the United States, but there is a prediction that it may become a dominant species soon, right?
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Yes. That’s right.
Rochelle Wallensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Biden administration’s head of quarantine, said the omicron mutation could ultimately become the dominant species in the United States.
Based on the initial data and the mutation data, he said, “Omicrons are presumed to have a stronger propagation power than delta mutations.”
In the United States, among the vaccinated people, Omicron infections are coming out one after another.
In this regard, he emphasized that these cases reminded the importance of vaccination, saying that the vaccinated experienced only mild symptoms and recovered quickly.
Currently, the number of Omicron confirmed cases in the United States is one after another.
After the first confirmed case in California on the 1st, 8 more people were added on the 2nd, and 11 more people were found in Nebraska, Maryland, and Missouri on the 3rd.
So far, it has been delivered by the International Department.
YTN Kim Hyung-geun (hkkim@ytn.co.kr)
[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
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