Dutch cluster suggests Omicron already has foothold in Europe

[Shiloh]

Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/dutch-cluster-suggests-omicron-already-has-foothold-in-europe

Dutch cluster suggests Omicron already has foothold in Europe
The variant appears to be highly contagious, but it's unknown how the symptoms compare with other strains of the virus, or whether current vaccines are less effective
Bloomberg News
Ros Krasny
Publishing date:
Nov 28, 2021 • 45 minutes ago

The 13 Omicron COVID-19 cases identified in the Netherlands on Sunday suggest the new variant already has a strong foothold in Europe.

Dutch authorities said they found the cases among 61 people who tested positive for COVID on two flights that arrived from southern Africa on Friday.

About 10% of the travelers on the flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg tested positive for COVID-19. Analysis of the remaining samples is continuing, said Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge. The other travelers have dispersed around Europe and the world.

“It is not unlikely more cases will appear in the Netherlands,” de Jonge told a news conference in Rotterdam. “This could possibly be the tip of the iceberg.”

The Netherlands cases mark the most widespread incidence of the new strain in Europe found so far, but the variant has been confirmed or is suspected in the U.K., Italy, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Australia, Hong Kong and Israel have identified cases, too.

In Campania, Italy, a double-vaccinated traveler who’d recently returned from Mozambique was confirmed as having the new variant, according to Italy’s National Health Institute. The man’s family was also positive and is isolating, with tests under way to determine the strain, authorities said...

 

[sharon sanders]

hat tip Michael Coston


Government statement


Cornavirus variant Omicron found in 13 positive tests so far

Publication date 11/28/2021 - 13:18

On 26 November 2021, 624 passengers returning from South Africa were tested for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by the GGD Kennemerland. The passengers were tested at Schiphol Airport; 61 of them tested positive for COVID-19. These test samples were sent to RIVMNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment for further analysis to determine which variant of the coronavirus was involved. Initial results from genome sequencing showed the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in 13 of the samples from the positive tests. Sequencing has not been completed yet. It is possible that the new variant will be found in more test samples.

The first cases involving the Omicron variant were reported in South Africa. Since then, this variant has been identified in various locations worldwide.

Travellers returning to the Netherlands from countries with Omicron risk: please get tested


People who returned on Monday 22 November 2021 or after from countries where the Omicron variant is present are requested to get tested, even if they do not have any symptoms. This applies to people returning from the following countries:
South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

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A special hotline has been opened where these people can make an appointment to get tested. That telephone number is 0800-5005.

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Important: people who recently travelled from one of the designated high-risk countries to the Netherlands should go into quarantine and stay home.

• This applies even if you do not have any symptoms, and even if you have been vaccinated, or had previously tested positive for COVID-19.
• You should not have any visitors. These precautions apply at least until the test results are known and you have received instructions from the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs).

Stop the spread, follow the measures


Regardless of which virus variant is involved, including the omicron variant: follow the measures.


Cornavirus variant Omicron found in 13 positive tests so far | RIVM

 

[sharon sanders]

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