More and more countries are closing their borders to travelers from southern African countries to prevent the spread of the variant.
Dutch health authorities announced on Sunday that thirteen passengers from South Africa who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Amsterdam on Friday are carrying the omicron variant.
“The omicron variant was identified so far in 13 of the positives. But the research is not yet finished, the new variant could be found in the other samples, “said the Dutch National Institute of Public Health (RIVM), in a statement.
After landing in Amsterdam, 61 passengers from Johannesburg and Cape Town tested positive for coronavirus. 531 were negative.
The positives are in quarantine in a hotel near Amsterdam-Schiphol airport.
“It is not unreasonable to think that there are more cases in the Netherlands,” Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said at a press conference.
The new variant of the coronavirus, omicron, first detected Thursday in South Africa, represents a “high to very high” risk for Europe, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control warned on Friday.
More and more countries are closing their borders to travelers from southern African countries to prevent the spread of the variant. (I)
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