Switzerland: 280 forced into isolation after alleged 'coronavirus superspreader attends party'
Party organisers are considering taking legal action after a person attended a private party despite allegedly knowing she had coronavirus, forcing almost 300 people into quarantine.
The management of the Parktheater in Solothurn said it was considering suing the attendee who reportedly attended a private party at the venue in late June despite knowingly being infected with the coronavirus, Swiss media is reporting.
After the incident, 280 people were forced into isolation - including members of the club’s staff.
Swiss tabloid Blick reported late on Monday that all who attended the party in late June were forced into a ten-day quarantine.
The newspaper reports that the infected woman, as well as several other attendees, later moved on to the Joker Club, risking further infections.
Q&A: What travellers to Switzerland should know about the new 10-day quarantine rule
As a result of the incident, all parties have been cancelled in the city of Grenchen.
‘I am incredibly angry - what audacity’
Thomas Vogt, Chairman of the Parktheater, said the management of the venue was incensed and was considering taking legal action against the woman in question.
“It makes me incredibly angry. What audacity”, Vogt said.
“Our employees are also affected, they too have to be quarantined. That is why we will examine legal steps.
“We have carefully implemented all measures. The police commander assured us that we did everything right. The party was approved because it was held outdoors and the distance could be kept.”
'ID and a functioning phone': These new rules will apply in Zurich nightclubs as of Friday
Cantonal authorities have also confirmed they are looking at criminal law avenues to take against the woman.
In Switzerland, nightclubs and private parties are allowed to accept up to 300 guests, provided personal contact information is recorded so attendees can be contacted if an infection is detected.
Anyone who has a positive coronavirus diagnosis, as well as anyone with symptoms, is forbidden from attending public events.
In Switzerland, negligent breaching of coronavirus rules can attract a fine of up to CHF5,000 - while intentionally doing so attracts a maximum fine of CHF10,000.
Nightlife venues under scrutiny
It is the latest in a series of ‘superspreader’ events at Swiss nightclubs which have forced hundreds of people into quarantines across the country.
On Sunday, June 29th, Swiss authorities announced the temporary closure of Zurich’s Flamingo Club after a ‘superspreader’ event led to several positive coronavirus tests and required 300 people to quarantine.
News has now emerged of several further outbreaks at Swiss bars and nightclubs, with patrons receiving messages that they may be infected, with some being told to quarantine.
On Wednesday, Swiss media reported that revellers who attended Zurich’s Plaza Club on June 26th that they “may have had contact with a person suffering from Covid-19”.
A text message from the cantonal medical service told attendees “it cannot be ruled out that they were exposed to the new corona virus and infected.”
Partygoers were not forced to quarantine, but were told to avoid crowds and contact a doctor if they had symptoms.
Attendees at Terminus in Olten, Solothurn on Saturday, June 27th have been asked to quarantine after a case of coronavirus was confirmed.
The club wrote on Facebook that an attendee had tested positive.
Owner Dušan Nedeljković told 20 Minutes: “We were of course shaken by this news. You don't want any reports about positive corona tests - and certainly not if it affects a visitor to your own establishment”.
The news of the outbreaks came just one day after two further outbreaks were detected in Zurich and in the neighbouring canton of Aargau.
In addition, 20 people have tested positive among 100 attendees at the Tesla Bar in Spreitenbach.
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The management of the Parktheater in Solothurn said it was considering suing the attendee who reportedly attended a private party at the venue in late June despite knowingly being infected with the coronavirus, Swiss media is reporting.
After the incident, 280 people were forced into isolation - including members of the club’s staff.
Swiss tabloid Blick reported late on Monday that all who attended the party in late June were forced into a ten-day quarantine.
The newspaper reports that the infected woman, as well as several other attendees, later moved on to the Joker Club, risking further infections.
Q&A: What travellers to Switzerland should know about the new 10-day quarantine rule
As a result of the incident, all parties have been cancelled in the city of Grenchen.
‘I am incredibly angry - what audacity’
Thomas Vogt, Chairman of the Parktheater, said the management of the venue was incensed and was considering taking legal action against the woman in question.
“It makes me incredibly angry. What audacity”, Vogt said.
“Our employees are also affected, they too have to be quarantined. That is why we will examine legal steps.
“We have carefully implemented all measures. The police commander assured us that we did everything right. The party was approved because it was held outdoors and the distance could be kept.”
'ID and a functioning phone': These new rules will apply in Zurich nightclubs as of Friday
Cantonal authorities have also confirmed they are looking at criminal law avenues to take against the woman.
In Switzerland, nightclubs and private parties are allowed to accept up to 300 guests, provided personal contact information is recorded so attendees can be contacted if an infection is detected.
Anyone who has a positive coronavirus diagnosis, as well as anyone with symptoms, is forbidden from attending public events.
In Switzerland, negligent breaching of coronavirus rules can attract a fine of up to CHF5,000 - while intentionally doing so attracts a maximum fine of CHF10,000.
Nightlife venues under scrutiny
It is the latest in a series of ‘superspreader’ events at Swiss nightclubs which have forced hundreds of people into quarantines across the country.
On Sunday, June 29th, Swiss authorities announced the temporary closure of Zurich’s Flamingo Club after a ‘superspreader’ event led to several positive coronavirus tests and required 300 people to quarantine.
News has now emerged of several further outbreaks at Swiss bars and nightclubs, with patrons receiving messages that they may be infected, with some being told to quarantine.
On Wednesday, Swiss media reported that revellers who attended Zurich’s Plaza Club on June 26th that they “may have had contact with a person suffering from Covid-19”.
A text message from the cantonal medical service told attendees “it cannot be ruled out that they were exposed to the new corona virus and infected.”
Partygoers were not forced to quarantine, but were told to avoid crowds and contact a doctor if they had symptoms.
Attendees at Terminus in Olten, Solothurn on Saturday, June 27th have been asked to quarantine after a case of coronavirus was confirmed.
The club wrote on Facebook that an attendee had tested positive.
Owner Dušan Nedeljković told 20 Minutes: “We were of course shaken by this news. You don't want any reports about positive corona tests - and certainly not if it affects a visitor to your own establishment”.
The news of the outbreaks came just one day after two further outbreaks were detected in Zurich and in the neighbouring canton of Aargau.
In addition, 20 people have tested positive among 100 attendees at the Tesla Bar in Spreitenbach.
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