4 ms·

The comment that passengers were "negative before take-off" is largely false. Only non-vaccinated passengers were required to show a negative PCR test (max 48h

The comment that passengers were "negative before take-off" is largely false. Only non-vaccinated passengers were required to show a negative PCR test (max 48h old) or RAG test (max 24h old), vaccinated passengers were allowed to board without any restrictions. Source (in Dutch): https://nos.nl/l/2407382 https://nos.nl/l/2407382

rocqua 5y ago
Note: that source states 13 of those 61 people are confirmed to have the Omikron variant.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- contravariant 5y ago
  And for completeness, the sequencing hasn't finished yet so that number may still rise. Primary source for all figures mentioned so far: https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/coronavariant-omikron-tot-nu-toe-in-13-positieve-testen-aangetroffen https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/coronavariant-omikron-tot-nu-toe-...
- xanaxagoras 5y ago
  How, is there a new test for Omicron variant? And is it available in the US?
  - _djo_ 5y ago
    No, it’s confirmed via sequencing. But the Omicron variant has a qPCR dropout like Alpha had, so you can identify likely cases from PCR tests and then use sequencing to verify.
- GenerocUsername 5y ago
  So 50 others were flying presumably infected with standard or unknown variants, but since they are vaccinated it would have gone unchecked?
denni9th 5y ago
All passengers on any flight leaving South Africa must show a negative PCR test, including those who have been vaccinated. Source: https://www.gov.za/covid-19/individuals-and-households/travel-coronavirus-covid-19 https://www.gov.za/covid-19/individuals-and-households/trave...
- graeme 5y ago
  Ah thanks. That sorts out why the passengers were tested despite dutch regulations.
- _djo_ 5y ago
  That’s confusingly worded and not enforced. I can confirm that fully vaccinated people flying from South Africa to the Netherlands did not need negative PCR tests until this week. You’re only required to fill in a declaration of vaccination status on the South African side. Source: I did the trip in late October, and colleagues just returned in mid-November. None of us had to have negative PCR or any other tests.
- yreg 5y ago
  On today’s episode of BBC World Service podcast they interviewed a canadian journalist who flew on one of those flights and she said that they as passangers were not asked to get tested before boarding. She said she only tested herself since her following flight from AMS mandated it.
aenis 5y ago
And receiving a negative test does not rule out being positive. The false negative rates - even for pcr - are high double digits (and depend on the phase of the infection). Lots of good research proving it, and yet not widely publicized.

rocqua 5y ago

Note: that source states 13 of those 61 people are confirmed to have the Omikron variant.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
contravariant 5y ago
And for completeness, the sequencing hasn't finished yet so that number may still rise. Primary source for all figures mentioned so far: https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/coronavariant-omikron-tot-nu-toe-in-13-positieve-testen-aangetroffen https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/coronavariant-omikron-tot-nu-toe-...
xanaxagoras 5y ago
How, is there a new test for Omicron variant? And is it available in the US?
- _djo_ 5y ago
  No, it’s confirmed via sequencing. But the Omicron variant has a qPCR dropout like Alpha had, so you can identify likely cases from PCR tests and then use sequencing to verify.
GenerocUsername 5y ago
So 50 others were flying presumably infected with standard or unknown variants, but since they are vaccinated it would have gone unchecked?

denni9th 5y ago

All passengers on any flight leaving South Africa must show a negative PCR test, including those who have been vaccinated. Source: https://www.gov.za/covid-19/individuals-and-households/travel-coronavirus-covid-19 https://www.gov.za/covid-19/individuals-and-households/trave...

graeme 5y ago
Ah thanks. That sorts out why the passengers were tested despite dutch regulations.
_djo_ 5y ago
That’s confusingly worded and not enforced. I can confirm that fully vaccinated people flying from South Africa to the Netherlands did not need negative PCR tests until this week. You’re only required to fill in a declaration of vaccination status on the South African side. Source: I did the trip in late October, and colleagues just returned in mid-November. None of us had to have negative PCR or any other tests.
yreg 5y ago
On today’s episode of BBC World Service podcast they interviewed a canadian journalist who flew on one of those flights and she said that they as passangers were not asked to get tested before boarding. She said she only tested herself since her following flight from AMS mandated it.

aenis 5y ago

And receiving a negative test does not rule out being positive. The false negative rates - even for pcr - are high double digits (and depend on the phase of the infection). Lots of good research proving it, and yet not widely publicized.