Omicron variant fears after 61 travellers from South Africa test positive for Covid as Europe warned of ‘very high risk’

DOZENS of passengers who arrived in Amsterdam from South Africa yesterday have tested positive for Covid – amid fears over a new mutant super-strain. Dutch authorities say 61 people who flew in on two flights are infected with the deadly bug. APDozens of passengers aboard flights from South Africa to Amsterdam have tested positive for Covid[/caption] They were among 600 passengers to arrive at Schiphol Airport on two KLM flights on Friday. All of those on the planes were tested for coronavirus. Further testing is now under way to find out if those infected are suffering with the Omicron variant. Health chiefs said: “Travellers with a positive test result will be placed in isolation at a hotel at or near Schiphol. “Of the positive test results, we are researching as quickly as possible whether they are the new variant of concern, now named ‘Omicron’.” The Dutch government banned all air travel from southern Africa early on Friday. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge determined that passengers already en route to the Netherlands would have to undergo testing and quarantine upon arrival. Passengers on the two KLM flights, from Cape Town and Johannesburg, said they were kept waiting on the tarmac for hours. “Vigorous applause because there is a BUS that has come to take us … somewhere,” tweeted New York Times journalist Stephanie Nolen, a passenger on the flight from Johannesburg who later said she had tested negative. “Bus to a hall to a huge queue. I can see Covid testers in bright blue PPE far on the distance. Still no snacks for the sad babies,” she added in a second tweet. A spokesperson for the health authorities in Kennemerland, the Dutch region that oversees Schiphol, said the positive cases were being analysed by an academic medical hospital to determine whether they are the new strain. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. Most read in News FEAR WE GO AGAIN Christmas lockdown fears grow as new strain on brink of reaching the UK IN THE DOCK Bobbi-Anne's family hurl abuse at musician in court accused of her murder KILLER STORM Head teacher killed by tree as 90mph snowstorm rip off roofs and wreak havoc ULTIMATE BETRAYAL My 'mates' trapped me in cellar & filmed themselves raping me for 6 hours sleepover 'murder' Man 'raped girl, 11, before murdering her and pal, brother and mum' KILLER STORM Rare RED alert for Storm Arwen with 90mph winds & 3ins snow to spark BLIZZARDS