Time to panic? UK calls for urgent meeting of G7 health ministers

The UK has officially called an urgent meeting of G7 health ministers amid growing concerns about the Omicron covid variant

This follows a further 13 cases detected in people in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam in passengers arriving on two flights from South Africa.

The 13 new cases are among 61 people who also tested positive for the virus as tighter restrictions come into force in the Netherlands amid concerns for this new strain and skyrocketing case numbers across Europe.

Throughout the Netherlands, hospitality and cultural venues will be forced to close early and there will be limits on home gatherings.

Omicron was first reported to the World Health Organisation by South Africa with early evidence suggesting a higher risk of re-infection.

The WHO has labeled the new strain as “a variant of concern”

The Dutch health minister has made an urgent request for people who have recently returned from South Africa to get tested for Covid “as soon as possible”.

Cases of the mutation have now been reported in a number of countries right around the world, including the UK, Germany and Italy.

The Netherlands is one of a number of countries to have imposed travel restrictions on some countries in southern Africa, whilst Israel has banned entry to all non-residents for two weeks.

Meanwhile, British Prime minister Boris Johnson says his government is watching the situation closely, but his nation’s borders will remain open.