The Dutch public health institute RIVM confirms that at least 13 of 61 infected passengers from South Africa are infected with omicron.
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– The investigations have not been completed. The variant will probably be proven in several test results, the institute writes in the press release.
The analyzes – called sequencing – are a time-consuming process.
The Dutch Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge stated at a press conference on Sunday that he is in dialogue with the country’s public health institute and European colleagues to assess whether there is a need for further measures.
Everyone who has traveled from southern Africa to the Netherlands in the last week is asked to get tested.
– What we have received information about now is that of the 61 that were reported from the plane from South Africa to Holland, 13 of these probably have the new variant, and none of them are seriously ill, said infection control director at FHI, Frode Forland, to VG.
The Dutch health authorities had not even come out with information in public.
No confirmed in Norway
In Norway, there are so far no confirmed or suspected cases of this virus variant that were discovered by South African health authorities. Where the virus first originated is unclear.
On Saturday, Dutch media reported that several passengers were most likely infected with the omicron variant. Analysis results on all 61 positive samples are expected on Sunday.
The two flights from South Africa landed in the Netherlands on Friday morning. One plane landed from Cape Town at 10.30am and the other from Johannesburg at 11am.
More than 600 passengers were not allowed to leave the planes for several hours and had to be tested. The passengers in the two planes were kept separate from others by the airport.
The people who have tested positive are required to isolate yourself in a quarantine hotel for at least seven days in case of symptoms, and five days if they have no symptoms.
Those who test negative must be in home quarantine for five days and test again on day five.
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