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61 travelers from South Africa to Netherlands positive for COVID-19, authorities say

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Toby Sterling, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Passengers waiting on their COVID-19 test results at Schiphol Airport, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in this picture obtained November 27, 2021 via social media. Social media photo obtained by Reuters" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/tvpatrol/11/27/covid-19-test.jpg"/><figcaption>Passengers waiting on their COVID-19 test results at Schiphol Airport, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in this picture obtained November 27, 2021 via social media. <em>Social media photo obtained by Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>AMSTERDAM—Dutch health authorities said that 61 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday tested positive for COVID-19, and they were conducting further testing early Saturday to see if any of the infections are with the recently discovered Omicron coronavirus variant.</p><p>Around 600 passengers arrived at Amsterdam&#x27;s Schiphol Airport on the two KLM flights on Friday and then faced hours of delays and testing due to concerns over the new virus variant.</p><p>The Dutch health ministry said early Saturday 61 tests had come back positive.</p><p>&quot;Travelers with a positive test result will be placed in isolation at a hotel at or near Schiphol,&quot; health authorities said in a statement.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/27/21/thailand-bans-entry-from-8-countries-over-omicron">Thailand bans entry from 8 African countries over COVID Omicron variant</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Of the positive test results, we are researching as quickly as possible whether they are the new variant of concern, now named &#x27;Omicron&#x27;.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/27/21/us-imposes-travel-ban-on-eight-african-countries-over-omicron-variant">US imposes travel ban on eight African countries over Omicron variant</a></li></ul><p>The Dutch government banned all air travel from southern Africa early on Friday. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge determined that passengers already en route to the Netherlands would have to undergo testing and quarantine upon arrival.</p><p>Passengers on the two KLM flights, from Cape Town and Johannesburg, said they were kept waiting on the tarmac for hours.</p><p>&quot;Vigorous applause because there is a BUS that has come to take us ... somewhere,&quot; tweeted New York Times journalist Stephanie Nolen, a passenger on the flight from Johannesburg who later said she had tested negative.</p><p>&quot;Bus to a hall to a huge queue. I can see COVID testers in bright blue PPE far on the distance. Still no snacks for the sad babies,&quot; she added in a second tweet.</p><p>A spokesperson for the health authorities in Kennemerland, the Dutch region that oversees Schiphol, said the positive cases were being analysed by an academic medical hospital to determine whether they are the new strain.</p><p>The new variant has been detected just as many European countries are grappling with a surge in coronavirus cases.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/27/21/who-names-new-covid-variant-of-concern-omicron">WHO names new COVID variant omicron, cautions against travel measures</a></li></ul><p>The Dutch government separately on Friday announced the nighttime closure of bars, restaurants and most stores as it tries to curb a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 cases that is swamping its healthcare system.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/21/expert-urges-vigilance-over-omicron-covid-variant">More transmissible than Delta? Expert urges public vigilance over Omicron variant </a></li></ul><div><strong>(Reporting by Toby Sterling Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Leslie Adler and Frances Kerry)</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1843086" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

About 600 passengers arrived at Schiphol Airport on 2 KLM flights Friday, then faced hours of delays and testing due to concerns over the new variant.

61 travelers from South Africa to Netherlands positive for COVID-19, authorities say

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61 travelers from South Africa to Netherlands positive for COVID-19, authorities say

Toby Sterling,

Reuters

Published Nov 27, 2021 05:06 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID 19

coronavirus

pandemic

Netherlands COVID

COVID variant

Omicron

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