Austrian prosecutors said that they are ending an 18-month investigation of the coronavirus outbreak in the ski resort of Ischgl, which has become one of the earliest super-spread sites in Europe.

In a statement today, the State Prosecutor of Innsbruck stated that it is ending the criminal liability investigation that broke out in Ischgl without any allegations of misconduct.

Ischgl is an early hot spot of Covid-19 in Europe. Although the number of sick people in the resort continued to increase in February 2020 and March 2020, its bars and ski trails remained open. As holidaymakers returned from their ski trips, thousands of people were subsequently infected across Europe.

The prosecutor said: “There is no evidence that anyone is responsible for doing or not doing things that would increase the risk of infection.”

The investigation investigated the allegations of local officials including the district governor and the mayor of Ischgl. Although they knew that public health was deteriorating, they lobbied to keep the resort facilities open.

The investigation was completed this year, but only now has it been reviewed by high-level prosecutors and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice.

A separate civil lawsuit against the Ischgl authorities is ongoing in Vienna.

Ishgl is preparing to start the winter ski season on Thursday, and the weekend’s celebrations are planned to mark the revival of the resort.

However, since Monday, the Austrians have once again been placed under a national lockdown. Bars, restaurants and hospitality venues will be closed until mid-December to curb the surge in coronavirus infections.