Health authorities in South Korea have confirmed that the country has detected three cases of the new COVID-19 strain, which was reportedly a more infectious variant of the virus.

The patients were a family of three who arrived in the country from London, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The KDCA said the family have been immediately placed in isolation to prevent any community transmission.

Earlier, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan have also reported cases of the new COVID-19 strain.

The new COVID-19 mutation has prompted more than 50 countries, including the Philippines, to impose travel restrictions on the United Kingdom.

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the imposition of temporary travel ban on all flights from the UK.

Duterte made the decision upon the recommendation of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and experts.

“Okay, I accept that. It’s good. So it’s amended accordingly,” Duterte said, when asked by Roque if the Philippines can extend the travel restrictions on transport from the UK for another two weeks.

Duterte initially approved the recommendation of the IATF-EID to ban Philippine flights from the UK from December 24 to 31.

Duterte said the only way to stop the possible entry of the new variant into the Philippines is to order another suspension of Philippine flights from the UK.