Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
New visualisation of the Covid-19 virus
New visualisation of the Covid-19 virus - Credit: Fusion Medical Animation / Unsplash - License: Unsplash
Health
GGD
Omicron variant
Covid-19
schiphol
Africa
South Africa
Lesotho
Swaziland
Namibia
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Malawi
WHO
Tuesday, 30 November 2021 - 21:00
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Hundreds come forward to get tested for Omicron variant after traveling in Africa

About 580 people who recently returned to the Netherlands from southern Africa have contacted a new hotline set up by the GGD to book a Covid test. The health service is also calling people who have recently flown from the area to the Netherlands, a spokeswoman for GGD GHOR Nederland said. "We have all the passenger lists in by now," she added.

These are people who returned after November 21 from the region where the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was identified. The GGD and the Ministry of Health are calling on all affected travelers to go into quarantine and get tested as a precaution, even if they have no symptoms.

The health authorities are attempting to stop the spread of the variant, labeled "of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO). The RIVM will further investigate positive tests, the spokeswoman said. This tracking will help determine all individuals carrying the new variant.

The Omicron variant was identified in South Africa. The advice to get tested and stay at home also applies to people who have returned from Lesotho, Swaziland (Eswatini), Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Malawi.

So far, the RIVM has identified 14 people who tested positive for the Omicron variant after returning from South Africa. These people are among the group of 61 people who tested positive at Schiphol Airport last Friday. The RIVM expects to give more information on Tuesday from the ongoing investigation that is being conducted from these test samples, said a spokesperson.

Reporting by ANP

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Bonaire residents feel forgotten by Dutch politics regarding climate change problems
  • 200 people arrested at Extinction Rebellion protest, A12 is empty again
  • Dutch economy in good shape: Retains top credit rating from Moody’s
  • Rutte expects European migration measures to take effect from March
  • Provincial council members to earn significantly more after elections in March
  • Police intervenes Extinction Rebellion protest on A12; Dozens of people arrested

Top stories

  • Police intervenes Extinction Rebellion protest on A12; Dozens of people arrested
  • Rutte lashes out at left wing parties in election campaign interview
  • Netherlands and the US agree on export restriction of ASML chip machines
  • Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists block the A12 in The Hague
  • Eneco is significantly lowering energy rates, but still above the price ceiling
  • Millions of computer chips from Dutch manufacturers wound up in Russia: Report

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content