""""Many corona infections in Europe can be traced back to the Austrian town of Ischgl. When a country warned long ago, skiing continued for eight days."""""""
”Many corona infections in Europe can be traced back to the Austrian town of Ischgl. When a country warned long ago, skiing continued for eight days.
The corona virus has an email address: ischgl@ostalbkreis.de. It was set up in the Kreishaus in Aalen (Baden-Württemberg) for around 200 people who were in coaches in Ischgl and could have brought the virus with them.
Local authorities are concerned for a reason. There are now numerous confirmed cases of illness from holidaymakers from all over Germany who have stayed in the Ischgl region. It shouldn't have come this far.
When an Icelandair Boeing 757 took off from Munich in Keflavík on February 29, the authorities had no idea that they were discovering something that could have slowed the spread of the corona virus in large parts of Europe. Iceland had encountered a corona nest, Denmark and Norway soon looked closely, while Austria did not want to know about it and in Germany the information did not converge, at least in public.
Declared a risk area on March 5
On board the plane from Munich, the Icelandic authorities not only come across a returnee from Italy, whose Corona test on March 1 is positive. Further samples show that members of a 14-member Ischgl travel group also brought the virus home.
On the morning of March 5, Iceland took action: the ski area was declared a risk area like Iran and Chinese Wuhan. Anyone who was in Ischgl should go to quarantine for 14 days and contact the authorities.
Austria's authorities quickly and fatally give the wrong answer as it looks today. It appears "from a medical point of view that there is little likelihood that there will be contagions in Tyrol", state health director Franz Katzgraber explains in a press release. According to the Austrians, the holidaymakers on board were infected by the sick returnee to Italy. The skiing fun is not affected.
Almost every second sick Norwegian was in Tyrol
It will be until March 14th that Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober and Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer make the full extent clear: They "call all people who have been in the affected regions of Paznauntal, St. Anton am Arlberg and Heiligenblut since February 28, 2020 have an urge to self-isolate at home. " Since the evening of March 13, Tyrol's German Robert Koch Institute has been a risk area.
In the meantime, other countries reacted faster. According to reports from Iceland, Norway asks a tour group from Ischgl for tests as early as March 7, some turn out to be positive. On Sunday, Norway reported that out of 1,198 infected, 491 had the virus from Austria - mostly from the Paznaun Valley. The number gives an idea of the size: Norwegians have a much smaller group of guests in Tyrol than the Germans.
Austrian authorities reduced risk
In Ischgl itself there is the first confirmed Corona case on the evening of March 7th: It is a 36-year-old German, service employee in the "Kitzloch". This is a popular bar right at the valley station, where it is so crowded and loud that the waitresses blow from the lungs into a whistle to get through. Owner Bernhard Zangerl complains today that his company is in the pillory: "Our employees also had to be infected by someone, since most of them are only here during the season." Chalking up an illness to a company is a cheek, he explained t-online.de. The problem with the virus is also that you don't notice it as a person affected.
After the diagnosis, the Tyrolean State Medical Directorate stated in a press release that a transfer to bar guests was “from a medical point of view rather unlikely.” However, people who had been in the bar in question three weeks earlier could contact the health hotline.
So it is on March 8th in a Facebook posting of the country. A German among them asks: "Shouldn't this information also be passed on to other countries? Are there other infected people among the bartender's colleagues? I think visitors to this bar should be informed during the period in question, even if contagion is 'rather unlikely'. is. "
A day later it turns out: 15 people examined fell ill around the Kitzloch employee. From the point of view of the state of Tyrol, it can now "not be excluded that there is a connection to some of the people who tested positive in Iceland". It is the day when Denmark also declares the ski area to be a risk area.
On this day, a woman is tested for the coronavirus in Mönchengladbach after noticing treacherous symptoms. She recently returned from Ischgl with her travel group. Your result is one day
From their 16-member group, the others can now also be tested. A total of twelve are positive, says Philipp from Frankfurt to t-online.de. He was part of the travel group with his girlfriend. He is not sick himself *. "But we were all working on March 9th and 10th, there were no warnings."
Philipp sends the message of the positive test towards Austria to friends. There she reads Scott (30) from Cologne. The day before, he was with four friends at après-ski in Ischgl. "Maybe that was youthful naivety," he reports t-online.de, but does not want to see his last name published. "But there were no warnings or anything there." He breathes in the stuffy air in the well-visited "Kuhstall" with a bad feeling. "Tomorrow it will continue at 4 p.m.," says the DJ.
With symptoms without contact with authorities
A mistake. The cowshed will no longer open: Tyrol's state government has issued an ordinance that the après-ski bars in the ski area will be closed until further notice.
"Then on March 11th I got the symptoms," reports Scott t-online.de. He lies in the apartment with chills, fever, cough, with one exception it also affects the others. The local authorities do not know anything about them, they have no contact with the authorities or a doctor: no access to the central number. "But we asked ourselves how the ski area can still be open."
In a press conference in Denmark with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, it is now known that out of 156 infected Danes, 60 have the disease from the ski resort at this time. On Thursday there were 139 sick people from Austria. Danish health experts distribute miserable grades: In view of the cases of their own countrymen from there, they asked, but Austria could not say anything. The misery in Austria has been uncovered by the northern European countries.
Hamburg called for risk classification
In a number of cities and counties in Germany, reports of sick people from the Paznaun Valley are now also piling up. On March 12th, the Ostalbkreis deployed fire-fighters to call the 200 ski holidaymakers and set up the aforementioned email address ischgl@ostalbkreis.de. Because of the abundance of possible cases, the schools in the district are closed earlier than in the rest of Baden-Württemberg.
The state of Hamburg points to a "cluster" of return travelers from the Ischgl ski area and asks the federal government "urgently to check whether the region has to be classified as a risk area". The Robert Koch Institute makes the decision on the evening of the 13th to declare Tyrol a risk area.
Scott from Cologne is back home with his friends. Shortly before the valley closed, they were in the car because they wanted to be tested in Germany. "A little later and it would have taken us six hours longer." Two thirds of the 170 positive corona virus test results in Tyrol at the time were due to the Paznauntal and St. Anton am Arlberg. It was therefore decided to isolate the locations. Scott received news on Monday that his test was positive. In the quarantine he was annoyed: "An attempt was made to keep the business going as long as possible for economic reasons."
Kitzloch boss Zangerl, on the other hand, sees good reasons for the procedure: "The right decisions were made at the right time." A further spread was prevented by a chaos in a disorderly departure.
Doctor: "We had to learn to recognize the problem"
Tyrolean governor Günther Platter also rejects accusations: unlike Lombardy, they reacted quickly. The early closure has enormous economic consequences, he said. But the health of the population and the guests take priority. "It would be huge damage if you take it so lax, now we let the guests come a few more days and then they get infected," he said in a press conference on Friday.
Cornelia Lass-Flörl, Director of the Section for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology and the group of doctors, "did not want to start with whether you were too late now. It is important that you have recognized the problem." But she conceded: "We had to learn to track the cases, investigate the whole thing and then finally realize that maybe we have a problem in some places."
Update: Because an anesthetist from the Salzburg Uniklikums (LKH) in Ischgl got infected and then appeared normally to work, according to a report by the ORF, 33 doctors, 53 nurses, 18 patients, three flight paramedics and a pilot were quarantined. The largest clinic sees both acute care and other care in the affected areas guaranteed by short-term reorganization, the report says.
* At this point we had initially reported that Philipp was also ill. But he is one of the four members of the travel group who are not positive”
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Everyone has 20/20 hindsight. There are hundreds of similar situations happening all over the world at the moment. Given what is known and was known at the time it is really not sensible to start throwing blame around. Once the virus started spreading from its original source, whether the fish market or elsewhere it was not possible to stop the spread (or at least not possible in contemporary society). If it was not Ischgl it would have been somewhere else. It does explain why the Austrian authorities became so spooked all of a sudden when the scale of what had been happening became apparent. The biggest issue seems to be that many people, perhaps even a majority, have little if any symptoms but can still spread the virus but are impossible to identify without a quick test which does not exist currently.
I might loath Ischgl and the people who own it but this is not their fault or the fault of the Austrian / Tirol authorities, it could have been anywhere.
After all it is free
After all it is free
The closure of Denmark can be directly linked to all the danes (incl. myself), that were in Ischgl. There are still danes in Ischgl unable to leave, and are checked by the police (from a distance - They have to stand on the balcony for a count).
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The German health minister has been quoted as saying
"The spread of the corona virus in Germany and Denmark has "a lot to do" with the return of numerous holidaymakers from the ski areas in South Tyrol, Austria and Switzerland. He therefore appeals to returning ski vacationers to stay at home."
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Happy Hour at Ritas in Ischgl was always a popular affair
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
munich_irish wrote:
ski areas in South Tyrol,
When we returned from the BB in Arabba on the later transfer coach to VCE airport, there were 2 Italians in proper facemasks sitting in the seats behind the driver. I thought it was odd as I'd never seen a European in one before (in public, rather than a clinical setting). Never connected it to anything at the time, as this was way back on 8 February!! When the virus was, as we then thought, an unnamed Chinese problem.
But someone knew something ....
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
maggi wrote:
munich_irish wrote:
ski areas in South Tyrol,
When we returned from the BB in Arabba on the later transfer coach to VCE airport, there were 2 Italians in proper facemasks sitting in the seats behind the driver. I thought it was odd as I'd never seen a European in one before (in public, rather than a clinical setting). Never connected it to anything at the time, as this was way back on 8 February!! When the virus was, as we then thought, an unnamed Chinese problem.
But someone knew something ....
Note the first post on SnowHeads was way back in January
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
munich_irish wrote:
Everyone has 20/20 hienzesight.
Only when you accidentally rub tomato sauce into your eyes.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Masks were rife at Geneva airport when I returned from a weekend 2nd Feb (sorry type it was 2nd Feb not 22nd)
edited once for wrong date
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Tue 17-03-20 21:12; edited 1 time in total
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
stevew wrote:
Masks were rife at Geneva airport when I returned from a weekend 22nd Feb
And narry a one on 29th Feb at Innsbruck.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
So this explains the Ischgl rapid close. However, what was the St Anton trigger? I know it is close, but surely there is not much flow between the 2?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It's hitting the German press more widely now.
Sueddeutschezeitung says that 15 Icelanders, 100 Danes and 377 Norwegians caught it in Ischgl.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@PeterGee, there were some known cases in St Anton, a Norwegian group staying in Pettneu for example. The assumption must be once the authorities realised the extent of the issue in Ischgl there could be no risks taken around St Anton, hence the drastic action there too. Lech / Zürs is also now in quarantine after a number of identified cases there. There were other cases around the Austrian resorts, for example a British group in Saalbach, one of whom had been in Italy and another who made some posts on the Saalbach thread here with some info.
So this explains the Ischgl rapid close. However, what was the St Anton trigger? I know it is close, but surely there is not much flow between the 2?
There is more flow between the two than people sometimes realise. Both are easily reached from Landeck so you do get people staying there and visiting both resorts. Both resorts are also accessed by the same rail line and use the same airports. Reports from friends living in St Anton is that there are more and more people coming down with it, and the numbers are increasing in Lech now too (that side of the Arlberg is now quarantined off).
If it hadn't been Ischgl it would have been somewhere else. There is no justification for reviling one place, or one country. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. China's response at the very beginning was lamentable (gagging doctors) too.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Using social media for your medical advice is thick. Using Stanton as your advisor is reeeeeeeally stupid!
After all it is free
After all it is free
The Ischgl Virus is Stanton's take on Trump's 'China Virus' - and equally meaningless.
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Corona crisis management in Ischgl:
Statement by the Silvretta cable car Günther Zangerl, board member of the Silvretta cable car,
addresses the public in an open letter.
He describes the events of the past few days. The letter in the wording
I actually think the damage has already happened in the Austrian ski towns. It doesn't surprise me that the hotspots are the places with a lively après scene. Lots of sweaty people in bars at very close quarters. Many of them were probably incubating disease and happily breathing on people, sharing schnapps, etc. Containing the towns themselves now really just protects the locals that live there and are free of the virus. I suspect a good many tourists have taken it home with them, more so than the numbers who brought it on holiday with them. The only saving factor is that they are likely to be young(ish) and in prior good health.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@stanton, you're unusually optimistic, only time will tell if the measures taken in Austria will work.
I understood that it is only St Anton in the Stanzertal that is in quarantine not Pettneu etc (might be wrong about that). If so that seems a bit odd given that the other villages are effectively extensions of St Anton and there were known cases in Pettneu. In the longer term folk in the isolated villages are probably better off. Once all the various cases have been discovered (or those with no symptoms have stopped being infectious) then they will probably be "safer" places than elsewhere.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@queenie pretty please, hope you and the Haus Susanne stay well.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Pamski, thanks, glad to say the Snowhead Amadéers are all doing OK. Flachau, Gastein and Großarl are about to be quarantined. We're not going far!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Keep it that way. We should have been coming back your way tomorrow, after discounting Italy, but it got kicked into touch two weeks or so ago. Shame as we had our season passes.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@queenie pretty please, We weren't in any apres bars after Monday last week (but it was a monster night!) and ate at the quiet pizza place on Friday night so hopefully didn't come into contact with it in Flachau
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@munich_irish, it is indeed just St Anton in the Stanzertal that is shut off surprisingly, basically just the Arlberg villages with lift access. Sounds like Zillertal could be next on the list.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Sitter wrote:
@munich_irish, it is indeed just St Anton in the Stanzertal that is shut off surprisingly, basically just the Arlberg villages with lift access. Sounds like Zillertal could be next on the list.
Not anymore - WHOLE of Tyrol is in quarantine.
Makes basically no difference for us in Innsbruck, but much more of an imposition for those in the villages...
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
clarky999 wrote:
Sitter wrote:
@munich_irish, it is indeed just St Anton in the Stanzertal that is shut off surprisingly, basically just the Arlberg villages with lift access. Sounds like Zillertal could be next on the list.
Not anymore - WHOLE of Tyrol is in quarantine.
Makes basically no difference for us in Innsbruck, but much more of an imposition for those in the villages...
Kinda next on the list I guess Big step, hopefully people see the seriousness of it and stick to it, been quite a few instances in St Anton of people breaking it (and workers getting out of the resort after it was quarantined, aided by their employer). Looks like it definitely won't be a 14 day quarantine for those initial Gemeindeamt.
@dunc999, anyone who was in Ischgl from about 20th February onwards could well have had (or still have) the virus. Probably also true for many if not all of the rest of Austrian resorts too.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Folks
Ischgl will have a monumnetal task of Re-Confindence building to do especially with the
German & Scandianvian visitors (bulk of the cleints) and is probably the only resort
in Austria that could withstand any future financial consequencies.
It is more than likely that the Authorities will order the demolition of the suspected
ApresSki Venue/Building to erase ............
Tirol is complete Lockdown now (as others already reported) ..
Season staff (Skibums & Transient Border Proffesional Workers) are still Quaratined (for the forseable future)
in the Towns where they work. Some have attempted to leave ...Not a Good Idea.
If this is the case then surely there must be loads of cases in Russia, given how many Russians are normally in Ischgl?
Good point. I've not heard much news about what's happening in Russia.
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stanton wrote:
In the USA their problems are Far Far Worse .....
You are unfortunately right about that.
I suspect this will go on for some time yet but sooner or later the tacky party will be back in Ischgl. If they have to rebuild or rename a couple of the places that will be no big deal for the folk (and families) involved, anything to get the cash flowing again.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Returned from Bad Gastein 12 days ago. Myself and my two mates had fevers, myalgia, malaise all last week. They coughed too although I did not (only 70% apparently have a cough). Still knackered and not back to gym/activities. Sh.t happens and I would not blame Austria.
The Russians are disinfecting themselves with vodka thus no cases.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Big step, hopefully people see the seriousness of it and stick to it, been quite a few instances in St Anton of people breaking it (and workers getting out of the resort after it was quarantined, aided by their employer). Looks like it definitely won't be a 14 day quarantine for those initial Gemeindeamt.