People walk inside Schiphol Airport after Dutch health authorities said 61 people arriving in Amsterdam on flights from South Africa have been tested positive for COVID 19 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 27, 2021. REUTERS Eva Plevier
THE HAGUE, December 4, Reuters -- Dutch health authorities said on Saturday the final number of passengers on two flights from South Africa last week who had tested positive for the Omicron coronaviruses variant was 18.
The Netherlands Institute for Health RIVM said in a statement that the investigation on passengers on the two flights has now been completed.
The flights had already taken off on November 26 when the Dutch government introduced new travel restrictions due to concerns about the newly discovered Omicron variant.
More than 600 passengers travelling on the flights were kept isolated and tested for COVID 19, with 61 testing positive, including 18 who were found to have the Omicron variant. The institute said that those who tested positive but don't have symptoms will be allowed out of isolation on Saturday while others will have to stay longer.
It didn't give details on the number of passengers that will be released from isolation.