A criminal investigation has been launched in Austria into allegations that an initial coronavirus infection was covered up at a ski resort that has since been identified as a major centre of the European outbreak.

Hundreds of infections in Germany, Iceland, Norway and Denmark have been traced back to the resort of Ischgl, in the Tyrolean Alps.

Austrian authorities are already facing questions after it emerged that the resort was allowed to remain open for a week after the alarm was raised.

But if the claims are true it appears the outbreak in Ischgl might have been stopped even earlier. On Tuesday, Austrian prosecutors opened an investigation into allegations that a suspected infection in the resort was covered up as early as February.

According to the allegations, a member of staff at a local business was suspected to be infected with the virus – but the case was not reported to to the health authorities.

"The allegations are so serious they have to be investigated immediately," a spokesman for the Tyrol regional government said.