A deviating protein has been found in a number of passengers that corresponds to the new omikron variant. As a result, RIVM can say with 95 percent certainty that a number of passengers are infected with the variant. Follow-up research should provide a definitive answer.
RIVM is already publishing the results of the first tests to convince people who have come from South Africa to the Netherlands since Monday to have themselves tested.
Quarantine hotel
The people on the flights that arrived from South Africa yesterday have already been tested. 61 passengers tested positive for corona. About sixty passengers stay in the quarantine hotel at Schiphol. This concerns infected people, but also negatively tested partners. A number of people in the hotel have been infected with the omikron variant.
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They have to stay in the hotel for five to seven days. Some of the passengers had come to Schiphol by car and live alone, they are allowed to quarantine at home. This concerns at least five people, the GGD Kennemerland reported earlier.
Virologist Marion Koopmans told RTL Nieuws yesterday that she assumes that the omikron variant is more contagious. “Yes, we think so.” A lot of research still needs to be done on the new variant. For example, it is still too early to say whether our vaccinations respond to this variant, Koopmans said.
The new variant could also be beneficial for the pandemic if the mutant discovered in South Africa is more contagious, but at the same time causes a less serious disease, said Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst.
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“If the omikron variant were less pathogenic, then the greater infectiousness (allowing omikron to replace Delta) would be very positive,” the authoritative virologist tweeted. “Therefore, we need to closely monitor the clinical data of omikron patients (in South Africa and worldwide).”
no-fly zone
Since 12 noon yesterday, a ban on flights from southern Africa has been in effect. In addition, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa are added to the list of very high-risk countries, the outgoing Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge announced yesterday:
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