Emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Austria

Abstract

This is a report on the first identified cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Austria. The first documented case was a person who stayed in Kühtai, Tyrol, from 24 to 26 January 2020, and had been infected by a Chinese instructor in Starnberg (Germany) between 20 and 22 January. This counts as a German case since her diagnosis was eventually made in Munich (Germany) on 28 January. On 25 February, two cases imported from Italy were diagnosed in Innsbruck but again no secondary cases were identified in Austria. The first three infections of Austrian inhabitants were detected on 27 February in Vienna. The two resulting clusters finally included 6 (source of initial infection unknown) and 61 cases. Most likely, Italy was the source of the latter cluster. On 12 March the first fatal case of COVID-19 in Austria was reported, a 69-year-old Viennese who died in a Vienna hospital after returning from a cruise ship tour in Italy. On 6 March three autochthonously acquired cases were reported in the Tyrol, all related to the ski resort Ischgl. Of the first 14 Islandic COVID-19 cases infected in Ischgl, 11 had already returned to

Genomic epidemiology of superspreading events in Austria reveals mutational dynamics and transmission properties of SARS-CoV-2

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“…We selected and analyzed SARS-CoV-2 virus samples from geographical locations across Austria, with a focus on the provinces of Tyrol and Vienna, given that these two regions were initial drivers of the pandemic in Austria ( fig. S1A) (17). We sequenced 572 SARS-CoV-2 RNA samples from 449 unique SARS-CoV-2 cases spanning a time frame between February 24 until May 7.…”

Non-occupational and occupational factors associated with specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Hospital Workers – a multicentre cross-sectional study

“…We specifically asked the participants in our study about staying in geographic regions and places with high COVID-19 activity. Interestingly, stay in an Austrian ski resort where at least one COVID-19 superspreading event had occurred in February/March 2020 was indeed an independent risk factor for seropositivity 21 . Several studies have by now identified an association between the AB0 blood group system and acquisition of COVID-19.…”

Web-based, rapid and contactless management of ambulatory patients for SARS-CoV-2-testing

“…Extensive prior preparation was not possible. The close geographical proximity to one of Germany's rst SARS-CoV-2 hotspots in the Heinsberg area on top of numerous travel returners from the Alpine region, led to maxed-out capacity (2,3). In addition, a large number of UHC employees with a relevant travel history or contact with SARS-CoV-2 positive patients had to be tested to avoid further spread of the disease within the hospital system (4,5).…”