Dutch health authorities confirmed Saturday that 18 passengers who arrived in the Netherlands last week on two flights from South Africa, after a travel ban was imposed, tested positive for the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

More than 600 passengers traveling on the flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town were tested for COVID-19, with 61 positive, including the 18 who were found to have the Omicron variant.

They had already taken off on Nov. 26 and arrived in the Netherlands shortly after the Dutch government imposed a ban on flights from southern African nations in a bid to curb the spread of Omicron.

The Netherlands’ Institute for Health said its investigation on the passengers has been completed. 

Those who tested positive but have no symptoms will be allowed out of isolation on Saturday while others will have to stay longer, the institute said.

With Post wire services