Coronavirus Covid-19: South Korea confirms the first cases of mutants

South Korea has confirmed its first cases of the most contagious variant of Covid-19 that was first identified in the UK.

The Korea Disease Prevention and Control Agency said Monday that the cases have been confirmed in a family of three who arrived in South Korea on December 22.

They landed a day before South Korea halted air travel from Britain until December 31 to protect against the new version of the virus.

The three people, who live in the UK, are quarantined in South Korea.

South Korea registered 808 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing its number of national cases to 57,680 with 819 deaths. It is the second day in a row that South Korea’s daily count has hit less than 1,000.

The country recorded 1,241 cases on Christmas Day, the biggest daily jump in South Korea since the pandemic began, and 1,132 on Saturday.

In recent weeks, South Korea has been dealing with a surge in infections related to hospitals, nursing homes, churches, a prison, family gatherings, and various other sites. The government said Sunday that it will be another week before determining whether to enforce its stricter physical distancing rules in the Seoul metropolitan area, which officials worry will further damage the economy.

The virus outbreak

The EU has launched a large vaccine rollout with the aim of projecting a unified message that the vaccine is safe and the best chance for Europe to emerge from the pandemic and the economic devastation of the lockdowns.

South Africa became the latest country to reach 1 million confirmed cases and is expected to re-enforce more virus restrictions.

In the US, unemployment benefits nearly expired for millions as President Donald Trump waited until the last minute to sign a year-end Covid-19 relief and spending bill, after urging lawmakers of both parties.

America’s leading infectious disease expert expects the general U.S. population to be widely vaccinated in late March or early April.

The outlook is much bleaker for many poorer nations, where war and instability pose enormous challenges to vaccination plans.