The detection rate of BA.5, the current dominant strain leading the Covid-19 epidemic in Korea, is gradually decreasing.
As a result of analyzing the detection rate of the Omicron subvariants last week (Oct. 16-22), the Central Disease Control Headquarters confirmed that the detection rate of BA.5 was 87.6 percent, a 0.8 percentage point decrease from the previous week (88.4 percent) and a 5.4 percentage point decrease from the fourth week of September (93 percent).
In contrast, the detection rate of BF.7 and BQ.1.1 among Omicron subvariants last week were 2.7 and 2.5 percent, respectively, a 0.9 and 2.1 percentage point increase compared to the previous week.
BF.7 is one of the sub-variants of BA.5, and has recently been spreading in Europe, such as Germany, France, and Belgium. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein than BA.5 and has stronger propagation power and immune evasion tendency.
BQ.1.1 is a sub-variant of BQ.1, which is rapidly increasing in the U.S.
Notably, the detection rate of BQ.1.1 among imported cases has soared from 0.8 percent in the previous week to 11.4 percent last week.
Health officials have also confirmed three additional cases of XBB, a recombinant variant virus first identified in Korea earlier this month. According to health officials, XBB is a mutant virus in which two subvariants are recombined and is evaluated to have significant immune evasion.
The government expects that the new variants will become a variable in a situation where concerns about a resurgence of the virus during the winter are growing.
“The government expects that the Covid-19 pandemic situation can deteriorate fast when combining the immunity evasion ability of Omicron subvariants with the reduced immunity of the public and increased indoor activities during the winter season,” KDCA commissioner Peck Kyong-ran said. “As experts estimate that the new bivalent Covid-19 vaccine may have some protective effect against future variants, I urge citizens to please participate in the booster vaccination.”
On Thursday, Korea added 34,987 new Covid-19 infections, including 55 cases from abroad, bringing the total caseload to 25,431,105, according to the KDCA.
The nation also reported 26 more Covid-19 deaths, raising the death toll to 29,069. The fatality rate stood at 0.11 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 242, the same as the previous day.
According to the KDCA, about 44.68 million among 52 million Koreans have been fully vaccinated. In addition, about 33.64 million people had received their first booster shots, and 7.52 million had their second booster shots.