New information from the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) shows that Omicron was present in the Netherlands earlier than initially thought. Data shows that the first case of the COVID-19 variant can be traced back to November 19.

Omicron variant present in the Netherlands earlier than thought

The RIVM announced on Tuesday morning that two PCR samples taken by the GGD on November 19 and November 23 have been confirmed as Omicron cases. It is not yet clear whether the patients who tested positive for Omicron had visited southern Africa.

News of the variant first broke on November 25 - over a week after the first Dutch case. Of the 641 passengers who were tested after flying from South Africa to Schiphol Airport on Friday, 14 are confirmed to have tested positive for Omicron. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled the variant a “serious concern.”