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KMID : 1143420210140130734
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Public Health Weekly Report
2021 Volume.14 No. 13 p.734 ~ p.741
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Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 variants of concern in the Republic of Korea
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Kim Ji-A
Kim Jeong-Yeon
Gwack Jin
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Abstract
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From January 20, 2020 to March 1, 2021, a total of 90,029 cases of Coronavirus disease-19 emerged after the first confirmed
case was reported in Korea. A total of 162 patients of Variants of Concern (VOCs) have been confirmed since the first case
was confirmed in Korea in December 2020. The purpose of this paper was to analyze and share the epidemiological and
clinical characteristics of VOC patients in Korea. This paper is relevant because its findings offer suggestions as to how to
respond to VOCs that can affect transmissibility and mortality among variants.
The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 162 VOC cases in Korea were analyzed using initial and in-depth
epidemiological investigation results reported through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s (KDCA) COVID-19 information management system; the information system for managing confirmed patients (HIRAe).
The 162 VOC cases were divided into three groups: 501Y.V1, 501Y.V2 and 501Y.V3. Among the 162 cases, there were 127
imported cases (78.4%) and 35 locally-acquired cases(21.6%). There were 106 male cases (65.4%) and 56 female cases
(34.6%). The average age was 36.4. By age group, people aged 30 to 39 accounted for 25.9%. 105 cases (64.8%) were Korean nationals. One hundred cases (61.7%) were symptomatic at diagnosis. Among the symptoms, 37 (22.8%) was mild respiratory symptoms without fever, and 27 (16.7%) was mild respiratory symptoms with fever. Most symptoms of VOC patients in Korea were mild, but five of the 501Y.V1 (VOC originating from the UK) patients were severe/critical (including one death). The rate of severe/critical symptoms was 3.09%, and the fatality rate was 0.6%. However, since researches on VOCs are ongoing worldwide and the number of VOCs detected in Korea is increasing, it is important to establish strategy for variant virus patient management through continuous monitoring and analysis.
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KEYWORD
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Covid-19, Variant Of Concern (VOC), Clinical characteristic
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