영국에서 귀국한 일가족 확진... '변이 바이러스' 촉각<br /><br />The South Korean government has been saying there have been no cases of the new COVID-19 variant spreading to South Korea.<br />However, authorities are examining a Korean family who recently returned from the U.K. to confirm whether they contracted the new, more transmissible strain.<br />Kim Hyo-sun has more.<br />A South Korean man in his 80s, who returned from the U.K. on December 13th, has posthumously tested positive for COVID-19.<br />The man, who suffered from cardiovascular disease,... died from cardiac standstill while in 14-day self-quarantine.<br />Following the confirmation, his family members also tested positive.<br />This prompted the South Korean government to look into whether they had contracted the new variant that is spreading fast in Britain.<br />Health authorities said samples have been collected,... adding that the final results are expected during the first week of January.<br />"Analyzing the genetic sequence for the mutation through a PCR test would not take long. Quarantine authorities might even have the results already."<br />The new variant type, which is known to be highly transmittable, is spreading fast across Europe, Canada, Japan and South Africa.<br />The South Korean government has also toughened quarantine measures by suspending all flights from Britain until December 31st.<br />"People who return from Europe will be tested within three days of entry, and tested again before they are discharged from self-quarantine."<br />As the new variant strain is believed to be nearly 70 percent more infectious than any other strain,... local health officials are also being extra cautious.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
