Importation and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant of Concern in Korea, November 2021
Ji Joo Lee, Young June Choe, Hyeongseop Jeong, Moonsu Kim, Seonggon Kim, Hanna Yoo, Kunhee Park, Chanhee Kim, Sojin Choi, Jiwoo Sim, Yoojin Park, In Sil Huh, Gasil Hong, Mi Young Kim, Jin Su Song, Jihee Lee, Eun‐Jin Kim, Jee Eun Rhee, Il‐Hwan Kim, Jin Gwack, Jungyeon Kim, Jin‐Hwan Jeon, Wook-Gyo Lee, Suyeon Jeong, Jusim Kim, Byungsik Bae, Ja Eun Kim, Hyeonsoo Kim, Hye Young Lee, Sang‐Eun Lee, Jong-Mu Kim, Hanul Park, Mi Yu, Jihyun Choi, Jia Kim, Hyeryeon Lee, Eun Jung Jang, Dosang Lim, Sangwon Lee, Young-Joon Park
Abstract
In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel. There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.