South Korea has confirmed seven more cases of COVID-19 variants, bringing the total to 34. 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) on Monday said analysis of imported cases since January 25 had identified seven to be the variants believed to be more contagious. Four were those first found in the U.K., two the Brazilian variant, and one the South African variant. 

KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-Kyeong said preparations for potential community spread are needed. 

Two of the seven were identified at the airport quarantine stage and five had tested positive during their two-week self-isolation period.  

Among the four patients carrying U.K. variants, two were Korean nationals and two were foreign nationals. Three had flown directly from the U.K., whereas one had traveled from the United Arab Emirates(UAE).  

Both people with the Brazilian variants had separately returned to Korea from Brazil and Canada. The individual with the South African variant had flown from the UAE. All were South Korean citizens.  

Of the cumulative 34 cases of COVID-19 variants discovered in South Korea, 23 are U.K. variants, six are South African variants and five are Brazilian variants.