South Korea steps up coronavirus vaccine efforts after detecting new cases carrying UK strain

South Korean officials say three people carrying the new coronavirus variant entered the country from London on 22 December.

South Korea is speeding up its launch of a public coronavirus vaccination program following the detection of its first cases of the variant linked to an infection surge in Britain.

The new variant, thought to be more transmissible than others currently circulating, was found in three people who entered South Korea from London on December 22, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Monday.

Overall the KDCA reported 808 new cases as of midnight Sunday, the lowest since a record 1241 infections on Friday.