Stuttgart – Following the Norovirus alert at Cannstatter Wasen, the number of reported infected people has risen sharply since the weekend.
City hall spokesman Sven Matis told BILD: “At the moment we have 430 cases.” In the afternoon, the city of Stuttgart then reported in a press release 727 infected people!
About 400 infected people claimed to be in the Göckelesmaier tent on Saturday night. On Sunday, another 30 were there. That means the virus was apparently not yet on the scene at the opening ceremony of the spring festival at noon on Saturday.
This refutes nasty rumors that animal rights activists PETA had spread the virus.
Matis city hall spokesperson: “We assume it is safe to visit the spring festival. However, we advise visitors to beer tents to wash their hands before eating and using the toilet.”
How did the virus enter the scene?
Stuttgart health and veterinary authorities are working hard to find the cause. Sanitation conditions have been checked and food samples have been taken, Matis explained. The first samples are currently being analyzed in the laboratory.
Could the service personnel have introduced the virus to the Göckelesmaier festival stage? The city of Stuttgart commented on this matter in the afternoon press release: “Investigations have been arranged for eight employees with symptoms.”
Festival host Karl Maier disagrees: “There is no indication that the virus was introduced by our employees. It is also possible that visitors brought the virus with them and infected other visitors.”
Maier: “Only employees who do not have symptoms and have confirmed this to us in writing are on duty.” By the way, all the food samples were positive.
The spring festival in Stuttgart runs until May 12. The organizers expect over a million visitors from all over Baden-Württemberg and beyond.
FILE PHOTO
