Austrian Ski Resort: Unwitting Coronavirus Super-Spreader

The Austrian ski resort town of Ischgl has been linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases across Europe. Despite warnings from Iceland that several of its nationals had contracted the virus in Ischgl, Austrian authorities allowed ski tourism to continue for nine days before quarantining the resort. The provincial government denied it had delayed action, but health experts disagree. The outbreak has been linked to the resort's tightly packed bars and clubs, where activities such as oral beer pong and the sharing of whistles likely contributed to the spread of the virus.

The Austrian ski resort town of Ischgl was packed with tourists from across Europe

Henrik Lerfeldt, a 56-year-old Dane, fondly remembers his time in Kitzloch, a popular restaurant and bar in Ischgl, where he spent several nights partying. Lerfeldt, who was speaking to CNN from self-quarantine at his home 50 miles from Copenhagen, described his time in the Austrian province of Tyrol as the way "after-ski" is supposed to be: "Lots of people, lots of drinks, and nice waiters happy to serve you more."

Lerfeldt tested positive for Covid-19 four days after returning home, as did one of his friends. They are just two among hundreds of people from across Europe whose infections are traced back to Ischgl, and some specifically to Kitzloch, according to European authorities.

Despite an official warning from the Icelandic government on March 4, 2020, that a group of its nationals had contracted Covid-19 in Ischgl, Austrian authorities allowed ski tourism and the associated partying to continue for another nine days before fully quarantining the resort on March 13. Bars in Ischgl were closed on March 10.

Hundreds of Covid-19 cases were traced back to Ischgl, with some to Kitzloch specifically

The Austrian ski resort of Ischgl has been described as a "virus hub" in Europe, with hundreds of Covid-19 cases traced back to the town. The virus was first detected in Ischgl in a 36-year-old German man who worked as a server in the Kitzloch, a popular après-ski bar. The crowded and noisy bar was identified as the source of a cluster of infections, with guests who had never entered the premises also becoming infected within the village.

The first case in Ischgl was confirmed on the evening of March 7, 2020. In response, the Tyrolean State Medical Directorate issued a press release stating that transmission to bar guests was "from a medical point of view rather unlikely". However, the following day, 15 people who had been in close contact with the infected employee fell ill, and the state of Tyrol conceded that a connection between these cases and those in Iceland could not be excluded.

The Austrian authorities were criticised for their initial response to the outbreak, which was perceived as downplaying the severity of the situation. On March 13, the state government ordered the closure of all après-ski bars in the ski area. By this time, the virus had already spread beyond the bar, with guests who had never entered the Kitzloch testing positive in the village.

The ski resort's popularity among tourists from across Europe contributed to the widespread transmission of the virus. Many countries, including Germany, Denmark, and Norway, reported a significant number of infections linked to Ischgl. The delayed response by the Austrian authorities likely contributed to the high number of cases, as tourists continued to socialise in close quarters without any restrictions in place.

An independent expert commission investigated the handling of the outbreak and found that the staff at the Kitzloch had been allowed to continue working despite exhibiting flu-like symptoms at the beginning of the pandemic. The report also criticised the authorities for their lacklustre response, stating that they had failed to recognise the problem and take appropriate action.

The Austrian government allowed partying to continue for nine days after an official warning from Iceland

On March 4, the Icelandic government issued an official warning to Austria, notifying them that a group of Icelandic nationals had contracted the coronavirus in Ischgl. Despite this warning, the Austrian government allowed ski tourism and the associated partying to continue for another nine days before implementing a full quarantine of the resort on March 13. During this nine-day period, the virus was able to spread unchecked, with hundreds of people from across Europe ultimately tracing their infections back to Ischgl, and specifically to the Kitzloch bar.

The Austrian authorities' delay in responding to the Icelandic warning has been criticised by health experts, who argue that the close contact inherent in bars and restaurants in a ski resort should have prompted a swift quarantine. Indeed, on March 5, the day after Iceland's notification, Reykjavik added Ischgl to its list of risk zones for Covid-19 transmission, putting it on par with China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran. However, the regional authorities in Tyrol downplayed the risk, with the medical authority reiterating on March 8 that there was "no reason to worry," even after a bartender at Kitzloch tested positive.

The Austrian government has denied that it delayed its response, stating that it acted in a timely and efficient manner. However, the nine-day period between the Icelandic warning and the implementation of the quarantine allowed the virus to spread widely, with at least four countries reporting links to Ischgl. The tiny village, with a permanent resident population of no more than 1,600, became a major vector in the spread of Covid-19 across Europe.

Beer pong and sharing whistles in bars likely contributed to the spread of the virus

Beer pong and the sharing of whistles in bars likely contributed to the spread of the virus. Jan Pravsgaard Christensen, a professor of immunology of infectious diseases at the University of Copenhagen, said that the game, which involves spitting ping pong balls out of players' mouths and reusing them, would have led to the exchange of saliva and, therefore, the virus.

Henrik Lerfeldt, a 56-year-old Dane who visited the Austrian ski resort, recalled that bartenders would use a brass whistle to get people to move out of the way as they took shots to customers. Several customers also blew the whistle for fun, he said.

Monika Redlberger-Fritz, head of the influenza department at the Medical University of Vienna, said that the way the virus spread in the Austrian ski resort means there was likely at least one person who infected a large number of other people.

The Austrian government denied dragging its feet, but health experts disagree

The Austrian government denied dragging its feet over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak at the ski resort in Ischgl, saying it acted in a "timely and efficient manner".

"With the measures taken, the authorities were able to contain the continuation of the chain of infections," said Bernhard Tilg, Tyrol's provincial councilor responsible for health, care facilities, science, and research.

However, health experts disagree. Jan Pravsgaard Christensen, a professor of immunology of infectious diseases at the University of Copenhagen, said that once Iceland notified Austria that Icelandic tourists had contracted Covid-19 in Ischgl, Austrian authorities "should have initiated a quarantine very quickly".

Instead, regional authorities in Tyrol downplayed the risk, saying it was "unlikely" there was contagion in the region. Even after a bartender at Kitzloch tested positive, the medical authority of Tyrol reiterated that there was "no reason to worry".

Monika Redlberger-Fritz, head of the influenza department at the Medical University of Vienna, said the way the virus spread in Ischgl means there was likely at least one person who infected a large number of others. This may have reduced the lead time for authorities to react by several days.

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