Of the South African travelers who were tested for COVID-19 in recent days after arriving in Schiphol, 9 percent had a positive result. This was announced by GGD Kennemerland, which conducts the tests.
All passengers involved were tested prior to departure in Cape Town or Johannesburg, and according to GGD, the majority likely have also been vaccinated. “This shows that the virus is spreading easily and that’s a cause for concern,” says GGD Regional Director Bert van de Velden.
Since the discovery of the omikron variant, stricter rules have been applied to flights from South Africa. We urge everyone with a final destination in Schiphol to take the test upon arrival. Hundreds of people participate every day. About a third of travelers have responded to the call for checks in recent days.
GGD underwent 459 tests from Sunday to Thursday, of which 41 were positive. It is unclear how many instances the omikron variant included.
In any case, GGD Kennemerland will continue to test South African travelers in Schiphol until next Saturday. Van de Velden hopes more travelers will be willing to take the test after arrival. “Only by building a blockade at the front can we control the spread of the virus.”
