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Further analysis has shown that the people who have tested positive for the omicron variant so far have probably contracted the virus in several places. “At least not during the flight,” De Jonge wrote to the House of Representatives.
Because more attention is being paid to mutations worldwide, the new variant has now also appeared in other countries, De Jonge continues. “Also in people who have not recently been to southern Africa. This points to a possible wider circulation of this variant.”
The minister emphasizes again that “there is still a lot of uncertainty” about the contagiousness of the new variant, the extent to which people become ill and the consequences for the effectiveness of vaccines. However, there are genetic features that may indicate that the virus spreads more easily.
Of the more than 600 passengers who arrived in two planes from Cape Town and Johannesburg at Schiphol, it was previously found that 61 had tested positive for corona. The infected passengers are currently staying in a corona hotel near Schiphol Airport. People with complaints must stay there for seven days. Security is available. On Sunday evening, a couple left the hotel and were later detained by the military police in a plane that was about to take off.
In the European Union, 33 people have so far tested positive for the Omikron variant of the coronavirus. They have all been to Africa recently. According to the European health service ECDC, some suspicious cases have been found in other countries, but it has yet to be determined whether the Omikron variant is involved.
All people who have tested positive so far have at most some mild complaints. No one has become seriously ill from it and, as far as is known, no one in Europe has yet died from the variant.
Coronateststraat Schiphol
Travelers who have returned from southern Africa since last Monday are urged by De Jonge to be tested and to go into quarantine. From Sunday they can make an appointment via the special number 0800-5005.
People returning from South Africa via Schiphol can also have themselves tested for the corona virus at the airport from Sunday immediately after arrival. The GGD Kennemerland has set up a special test street at the airport for this purpose.
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Employees of the Red Cross transferred the corona patients from Schiphol to the hotel, where they are obliged to quarantine.
Ⓒ ANP / ANP
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These are travelers from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho and Eswatini (Swaziland). These countries now have an entry ban for non-EU citizens. The Dutch can still travel back and forth to southern Africa. Upon return to the Netherlands, they must have a double negative test result and must be in home isolation for at least five days on arrival. According to De Jonge, the municipality is coming to check whether they are actually staying at home.
Omicron variant in several European countries
Belgium was the first European country where the variant was established, followed on Saturday by England and Germany. The World Health Organization (WHO) has given the variant the stamp of concern, but as yet it is unclear what the consequences are for the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of vaccines.
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