The Netherlands monitors 61 people with corona on two flights from South Africa
The health authorities in the Netherlands said that they had detected 61 people infected with the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) among travelers who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa yesterday, Friday.
Today, Saturday, she added, she began conducting more tests to see if any of them were infected with the Omicron strain that was discovered recently.
Nearly 600 passengers arrived at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on two flights on Friday, before the Dutch government halted flights from southern Africa due to concerns about the new virus strain.
Dutch health authorities said on Saturday they would also seek to contact travelers who have arrived from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe since last Monday and urge them to get tested as soon as possible.
Friday's flight passengers were separated from other travelers before those who tested positive were isolated at a hotel near the airport.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health said that it would not be known until later today whether any of the passengers were infected with the new strain.
The Dutch flight ban does not mean that all flights from southern Africa to the Netherlands will be halted as Dutch nationals are allowed to return home while EU citizens are allowed to enter on transit flights on their way to their home countries.
Medical staff, airline crews and people with urgent needs are still allowed to travel.
KLM Airlines continues its flights to the region, but travelers need to remain in quarantine for at least five days upon arrival in the Netherlands.
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