Covid 19: 61 Passengers Land in Netherlands Test Positive for Virus

• 61 South African travellers to the Netherlands have tested positive for Covid 19 after a travel ban was implemented
• The flight was already en route to Amsterdam and the passengers were kept waiting for hours on the runway while tests were carried out
• Europe is experiencing a surge in Covid 19 cases and the new Covid 19 variant B.1.1.529 is believed to be responsible

AMSTERDAM - The Dutch health authorities have confirmed that 61 passengers who arrived in Amsterdam on two separate flights have tested positive for Covid 19.

This comes after the European Union announced a flight ban on South Africa and five other African countries.

Kept waiting for hours

Tests were being carried out to determine if the infected passengers are carrying the new Covid 19 variant B.1.1.529.

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Covid19: 2 People tested positive for Omicron variant in Netherlands before South African flights arrived

The two KLM flights were kept waiting for hours on the runway while tests were carried out. The Dutch Health Minister Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said that the two flights were already en route when the flight ban came into place.

He said that the passengers would have to be tested and quarantined if necessary on arrival according to News24.

New variant causes concern

The global community is extremely anxious about this new variant and governments are concerned that the variant could pose a threat to the world due to its large number of mutations.

Scientists believe that it might be more resistant to the current Covid 19 vaccines and highly infectious.

Reuters has reported that the new variant had already been detected in Europ and countries are experiencing a surge in Covid 19 cases.

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South Africans do not want another Covid 19 lockdown, government risks public backlash

Covid 19: Mzansi is glad there's no mandatory vaccination in SA like in Austria

Austria is the first country in Western Europe that will reimplement a full lockdown to help curb the spread of Covid19. In addition to a full lockdown, the Austria government has made the decision to make Covid19 vaccinations are a requirement.

The country has seen a sharp increase in Covid19 infections as well as hospitalisation in recent days, with hospitals fast filling up.

According to Reuters, although two-thirds of the Austrian population have already received their jab, a lot of people have been quite hesitant to get their Covid19 shot and the hesitancy is reportedly urged by the Freedom Party, a far-right political organisation.

Source: Briefly News