[Washington Examiner] German officials said they have tallied 59 coronavirus infections linked to a U.S. citizen accused of partying despite awaiting COVID-19 test results and showing symptoms of the illness.The cluster of cases occurred in the Bavarian resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where the 26-year-old woman in question, who has not been identified, worked at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. Some 740 tests were conducted in the town over the weekend, and officials are still awaiting results from 300 tests conducted on Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Markus Soeder, the leader of Bavaria, called the outbreak "a model case of stupidity." He said that he thinks the woman, who visited bars despite her pending test result, should be fined, noting that "such recklessness must have consequences."
The cluster of cases linked to the woman has resulted in a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the closure of the 258-room Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, which is owned by the Pentagon and used by U.S. military forces. The facility will be shuttered for at least two weeks. The U.S. military is conducting an investigation into the outbreak, including contact tracing, according to John Tomassi, spokesman for the U.S. Army Europe.
Andrea Mayer, a spokeswoman for prosecutors in Munich, told the Associated Press that there is an "ongoing" investigation into the woman on suspicion of causing bodily harm.
Germany has had more than 265,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and at least 9,367 deaths since the pandemic began.