At least 42 of the 45 Dutch people who were in quarantine in Abu Dhabi because of the corona virus are on their way to the Netherlands, confirms spokesman Ralf van Vegten on behalf of NEP Group. Some of them are already at home.
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Thirteen Dutch people have already arrived at Schiphol on Monday morning. Currently, 27 Dutch people fly on scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi to Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam. Travelers must fly to the country that is in their passport.
The expectation is that they will land around 6:30 on Tuesday morning. The NEP Group aircraft with which cycling races are beaten is also on its way to the Netherlands with two pilots.
Van Vegten’s media company, with 42 Dutch people, was active in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide productions, such as television broadcasts and highlights of the races of the cycling round in the country.
When a positive test for the COVID-19 virus was taken by four Italian colleagues of a cycling team, the Dutch were summoned to report to the hotels in Abu Dhabi. Since Thursday they have been in quarantine.
Debriefing by the GGD in the Netherlands
Upon returning home, the Dutch must report to the GGD for a debriefing, says Van Vegten. “The tests they have undergone in Abu Dhabi are also valid here. Therefore they do not have to be in quarantine.”
There were 45 Dutch people detained in Abu Dhabi. Van Vegten has no insight into the other three, but he does say that there were no positive tests. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not confirm anything on Monday evening.
On Saturday evening it seemed that the Dutch could go home. “Our employees were already on the bus when it finally did not go ahead,” says Van Vegten.
The first group of thirteen people was released quite easily by the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, says Van Vegten. With the second group, it was difficult to release the papers. The Dutch ambassador in Abu Dhabi has given a helping hand to speed up the process.
The COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) in short
- The virus spreads mainly through cough and sneeze drops that hang in the air for a short time. Anyone who shows no symptoms is hardly a risk of infection.
- Someone can infect two or three others on average (less than, for example, measles). However, this figure is falling due to all precautions.
- The vast majority have mild (flu-like) symptoms.
- Almost all deaths concern older or already sick people.
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