Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2021 Feb;12(1):37-43. 10.24171/j.phrp.2021.12.1.06.

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: Distribution of Clades in the Republic of Korea in 2020

• Park AK
• Kim IH
• Kim J
• Kim JM
• Kim HM
• Lee Cy
• Han MG
• Rhie GE
• Kwon D
• Nam JG
• Park YJ
• Gwack J
• Lee NJ
• Woo S
• No JS
• Lee J
• Ha J
• Rhee J
• Yoo CK
• Kim EJ

• KMID: 2513349
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.12.1.06

Abstract

Since a novel beta-coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019, there has been a rapid global spread of the virus. Genomic surveillance was conducted on samples isolated from infected individuals to monitor the spread of genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency performed whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea for 1 year (January 2020 to January 2021). A total of 2,488 SARSCoV-2 cases were sequenced (including 648 cases from abroad). Initially, the prevalent clades of SARSCoV-2 were the S and V clades, however, by March 2020, GH clade was the most dominant. Only international travelers were identified as having G or GR clades, and since the first variant 501Y.V1 was identified (from a traveler from the United Kingdom on December 22 nd , 2020), a total of 27 variants of 501Y.V1, 501Y.V2, and 484K.V2 have been classified (as of January 25 th , 2021). The results in this study indicated that quarantining of travelers entering Korea successfully prevented dissemination of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Korea.

Keyword

SARS-CoV-2; whole-genome; sequencing; Republic of Korea https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.12.1.06 pISSN 2210-9099 eISSN 2233-6052 A BSTR A C T Since a novel beta-coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)