Netherlands: Passengers from South Africa tested positive for coronavirus while having negative tests

The Dutch health authorities today expressed concern as some passengers arriving on flights from South Africa last week tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival, despite having been vaccinated and tested negative before departure. their.

“It shows that the virus is spreading easily and that is worrying,” said Bert van de Felden, director of the Kenenerland Regional Health Authority, which includes Amsterdam’s Siphol Airport.

“It is of utmost importance that travelers are properly examined before their flight and allowed to be tested upon arrival.”

Hundreds of passengers arrive on flights from South Africa to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport every week and health authorities say about 9% of those who agreed to be tested on arrival (only one-third agreed) turned out to have Covid- 19.

Health authorities have been conducting post-flight tests since November 26. Two flights from South Africa were still in the air at the time when the Dutch government introduced new travel restrictions due to concerns about the appearance of the Omicron variant. More than 600 passengers on these flights were isolated and tested. It turned out that 62 were infected with Covid-19 and 14 of them with the Omicron variant.

Source: AMPE