The COVID-19 Omicron variant was detected in the Netherlands before two flights arrived from South Africa carrying the virus, Dutch health official said on Tuesday.
"We have found the Omicron coronavirus variant in two test samples that were taken on Nov. 19 and Nov. 23," the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said. "It is not clear yet whether these people have visited Southern Africa."
At least 14 people on two flights from Johannesburg and Capetown arrived in the Netherlands on Nov. 26 carried the new variant, the RIVM said.
(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch and Bart Meijer, Editing by Louise Heavens)
