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Passengers on KLM flight 598 on the tarmac at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Photo: UGC / AP / dpa
In the Netherlands, infections with the new Omikron coronavirus variant have been found in 13 travelers from South Africa.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge announced on Sunday.
The people came to Amsterdam on Friday with the Dutch airline KLM.
In total, the health authority at Schiphol Airport tested more than 600 passengers on two KLM machines, 61 tests were positive.
All those affected were isolated in a quarantine hotel.
De Jonge again appealed to all people who have traveled to the Netherlands from southern Africa since last Monday to be tested for Corona immediately.
In the meantime, the rules for access to KLM aircraft in South Africa have been tightened.
Even people who have been vaccinated twice are only allowed on board with a negative PCR test, and a quick test must also be negative shortly beforehand.
Before, vaccinated people did not have to show a test.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the Omikron variant as "worrying".
The EU health authority ECDC speaks of serious concerns that the variant could significantly reduce the effectiveness of the corona vaccines and increase the risk of reinfections.
The exact effects of the new variant have not yet been determined.
More soon on SPIEGEL.de
oka / AFP / Reuters
