Austria hears first trial over Covid-19 outbreak at Ischgl ski resort

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The first civil trial begins Friday in a Vienna court over a notorious coronavirus outbreak at the popular ski resort of Ischgl in March 2020, where thousands of people from 45 countries claim to have been infected.

The case is the first of 15 lawsuits brought by Austrian and German plaintiffs, accusing authorities of not responding quickly enough to the Covid-19 outbreaks in Ischgl and other resorts in the province of Tyrol.

It is carried in the name of the family of Hannes Schopf, 72, who died after contracting the virus in Ischgl.

Lawyer Alexander Klauser, acting for the Schopf family and the consumer organization VSV helping them and others to take their cases to court, said the official loopholes that have allowed Ischgl and its environs to become a virus hotspot were multiple.

He pointed to a report last October from an independent commission of experts which found that local authorities had “reacted too late” and made “serious miscalculations” when alerted by Iceland on March 5 that several of its nationals had tested positive on their return home.

Local authorities “had at least 48 hours to react” after the warning, Klauser told AFP.

They also missed an opportunity to block more tourists from coming to the valley this weekend, and the regional government questioned whether Icelandic tourists had been infected in Ischgl, he said.

Klauser also accused local authorities of doing “too little, too late” when a restaurant worker tested positive for the virus, saying contact tracing was insufficient and restrictions implemented. on tourist activity over the following days was just “stopping”.

When the valley was eventually placed under quarantine, an orderly evacuation of the area was “thwarted” by the chaotic manner in which it was announced and organized, Klauser continued, also pointing to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

According to Schopf’s widow, the retired journalist and ski enthusiast caught the virus during the panicked bus evacuation, stuffed with other tourists who sneezed and coughed for three hours.

The Schopf family are now suing the Republic of Austria for 100,000 euros ($ 120,000) for his death.

‘Bursts’

In an interview with AFP earlier this year, his widow, Sieglinde Schopf, said his “whole world had shattered into pieces”.

“I can’t forgive myself because in the end I sent him to death,” as she had encouraged him to take the break, she said.

In addition to the 15 lawsuits, 30 other people have filed compensation claims with the Austrian government, according to Klauser.

“What everyone concerned wants above all is for the Republic of Austria to accept its responsibility – we have had no sign of it so far,” said the lawyer.

The suffering of those left behind has been “prolonged” by the official refusal to take any blame, he said.

Of the 6,000 people who claim to have contracted the virus in Ischgl and its surroundings, five percent suffer from symptoms of long Covid, including headaches, sleep disturbances and shortness of breath, the association VSV said. A total of 32 people died.

Contacted for comment by AFP, the federal prosecutor’s office, which represents the state, said it “will not comment on the ongoing proceedings.”

While expressing sympathy for the victims of the virus and their loved ones, authorities denied acting too slowly or having been able to do more at the time.

Five people, including four local officials, were indicted by the Innsbruck prosecutor’s office in connection with the epidemic.

The file was sent to the Justice Department with no indication as to whether criminal charges will eventually be laid.

Austria’s vital ski sector has been hit hard in the 2020/2021 season, with some resorts reporting a drop in visitor numbers of up to 90%.

(AFP)


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