13 cases of omicron COVID variant found on Dutch flight from South Africa

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy about the number of COVID-19 cases that were found to be the omicron variant.

(WHEC) — Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a disaster emergency for New York. One of the reasons for this is the emergence of the new coronavirus variant called omicron.

It was first discovered in South Africa and it’s being blamed for the surge in cases in multiple countries. On Friday, the United States decided to ban travel from South Africa and several other African nations by non-Americans starting on Monday.

On Saturday morning, Dutch authorities reported 61 COVID-19 cases on a flight from South Africa, 13 of which were the omicron variant.

No omicron cases have been detected in New York at this time, but Gov. Hochul believes it is coming.