Jakob Gruber
Who the suspects are was not disclosed. In the previous year, the coronavirus was brought to many European countries by travelers returning from the popular Tyrolean holiday resort of Ischgl, including Germany.
There are still no charges. The 70-page report by the public prosecutor’s office will be examined by the Ministry of Justice beforehand. The investigators investigated whether suspects brought about or accelerated the spread of Covid-19 in a criminal way. They examined the measures that were taken at the beginning of March after the first infections became known, as well as the closure of the ski area on March 13th.
An independent commission of inquiry had spoken of serious misjudgments in October. Among other things, ski buses and cable cars were only stopped with a delay.
In addition to criminal investigations, the Austrian Consumer Protection Association (VSV) is demanding compensation from the Republic of Austria in connection with Ischgl. On September 17, the first trial on behalf of the bereaved of an Austrian who was infected with the corona virus in the ski resort and then died is to begin in Vienna. Around 100 more lawsuits are being prepared according to the VSV.