Fears Omicron variant has spread to Germany and the Netherlands

Two more countries may have been infected with the Omicron variant after recent travellers from South Africa tested positive to Covid-19.

Fears the Omicron variant has spread further throughout Europe are mounting as health officials in the Netherlands and Germany suspect travellers from South Africa have brought the infection across.

It comes as countries around the world are racing to introduce travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain the concerning new mutation.

Early evidence suggests Omicron has an increased reinfection risk, with an emergency meeting of a WHO advisory group on Friday responding to reports of the variant’s spread as far and wide as South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.

On Friday, an individual who had recently arrived from Egypt to Belgium tested positive for the new variant, marking the first case in Europe.

Now, the Netherlands and Germany could be likely to follow.

Suspected case in Germany

Reuters has reported the variant has “probably” entered Germany after a minister in the western state of Hesse said mutations were found in a passenger arriving from South Africa on Saturday.

“Last night several Omicron-typical mutations were found in a traveller returning from South Africa,” tweeted Kai Klose, social affairs minister in Hesse, which is home to Frankfurt airport, one of Europe’s busiest airports.

Full sequencing of the variant was being carried out by authorities, with the suspected case in isolation. Kai Klose urged anyone who had travelled from South Africa in the last few weeks to limit contacts and get tested.

Reuters reports Germany will now declare South Africa a virus-variant area, with airlines only permitted to fly German passengers returning home from South Africa.

It is likely Germany now has its first case of Omicron. Picture: Ina Fassbender / AFP.

Flight from South Africa sparks testing frenzy in the Netherlands

Meanwhile, Dutch health authorities have confirmed 61 passengers aboard two flights from South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19.

The results were being examined for the new Omicron variant, with the positive cases now quarantined in a hotel near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, AFP reports.

“We now know that 61 of the results were positive and 531 negative,” the Dutch Health Authority (GGD) said in a statement.

“The positive test results will be examined as soon as possible to determine whether this concerns the new worrisome variant, which has since been given the name Omicron variant.”

Passengers travelling from South Africa queue to be tested after being held on the tarmac at Schiphol Airport, Netherlands. Picture: Reuters.

All passengers who tested positive will remain in hotel quarantine for seven days if they show symptoms. Those who are symptomless will leave after five days, the GGD said.

Passengers who tested negative, but are remaining in the Netherlands, are expected to isolate at home, with the remaining passengers who do not live in the Netherlands permitted to “continue their journey”.

Dutch national carrier KLM, on which the infected passengers had travellers, said it would continue to operate flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town “in compliance with the stricter protocol.”

It comes as EU health authorities say the new strain poses a “high to very high risk” to the continent.

Fears for a case already in Australia

Authorities are waiting on test results of a positive case who returned from South Africa to find out if the newest Covid-19 variant of concern has arrived in Australia.

While there are no direct flights between South Africa – where the Omicron variant originated – and Australia, 20 people were repatriated last week and are quarantining at Howard Springs.

One person has so far tested positive.

Authorities are yet to rule out whether the person has the Omicron variant, which is of such considerable concern to Australia the borders are closed to all flights, and all nonresidents coming from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had spoken to his Northern Territory counterpart, and authorities were attempting to pin down the specifics of the case, with an update expected later on Saturday.

Mr Hunt said as it stands, there are no cases of Omicron in Australia.

Greg Hunt announced boarder closures on Friday in response to the variant. Picture: NCA NewsWire.

‘Strong, swift’ move to close borders

Health Minister Greg Hunt and chief medical officer Paul Kelly said on Friday the “strong, swift, decisive and immediate” move to slam borders shut was required following the identification Omicron.

Australians who have been to, or are due to arrive in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique within the last 14 days will be ordered into immediate supervised quarantine.

Non citizens who have been in those nine countries in the past 14 days will not be able to enter Australia.

International students and skilled migrants who have been in any of the nine countries in the past two weeks will not be allowed to enter Australia, and all flights from the nine countries have been suspended for 14 days “as a matter of precaution”.

The variant, which originated in South Africa, is still an enigma to global epidemiologists, but the UN health agency said in a statement the variant had a “large number of mutations, some of which are very concerning”.

“The variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage,” the statement said.

Early reports suggest Omicron has a higher risk of reinfection.

Mr Hunt said he wanted to emphasise how “well-placed” Australia was to fight the Omicron challenge.

“(But) on the basis of medical advice, the Australian government will be implementing additional precautionary border security measures in order to protect Australians while more is learnt about the nature and impact of the Omicron variant of concern,” he said.

“There are currently no known cases of the Omicron variant in Australia.”

Mr Hunt said it was a timely reminder for the small percentage of Australian adults who have not been vaccinated that they should come forward for their jab.

– with Reuters and AFP