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. 2020 Feb;27(2):645-648.
doi: 10.3201/eid2702.204443. Epub 2020 Dec 2.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Outbreak Related to a Nightclub, Germany, 2020

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Outbreak Related to a Nightclub, Germany, 2020

Nadine Muller et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

We report an outbreak of coronavirus disease with 74 cases related to a nightclub in Germany in March 2020. Staff members were particularly affected (attack rate 56%) and likely caused sustained viral transmission after an event at the club. This outbreak illustrates the potential for superspreader events and corroborates current club closures.

Keywords: Berlin; COVID-19; Germany; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; contact tracing; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; diagnostic testing; disease outbreaks; infectious disease transmission; public health practice; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; superspreader event; viruses; whole-genome sequencing; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Date of symptom onset among 64 coronavirus disease cases linked to an outbreak in a nightclub, Berlin, Germany, March 2020. The asterisks indicate cases with symptom onset prior attending event 1 (symptom onset on February 28, 2020) and event 3 (symptom onset on March 4, 2020). No guests among cases reported attending event 2, but all attended either event 1 or event 3. No staff among cases attended only event 2; all attended event 1, event 3, or both events.

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